Involuntary fertility control refers to the implementation of measures or techniques to reduce or control the fertility rates of a population without the voluntary consent or choice of individuals. It involves the use of various methods, policies, or practices aimed at limiting or regulating the number of births.
Such measures can include forced sterilizations, coercive family planning programs, or non-consensual contraception. Involuntary fertility control may be driven by various factors, including political, social, economic, or demographic concerns, often within the framework of population control programs.
Involuntary fertility control can be carried out by governments, institutions, or organizations through policies, legal frameworks, or interventions targeting specific groups or communities. These measures can be particularly oppressive, infringing upon reproductive rights and autonomy. It can disproportionately affect marginalized or disadvantaged populations, leading to issues of social justice and human rights violations.
The term "involuntary fertility control" should be distinguished from voluntary family planning, which refers to individuals' autonomous decisions about when and how many children to have. Involuntary fertility control represents an infringement upon reproductive agency and the right to make informed choices about reproductive health.
Efforts to protect human rights and promote reproductive justice emphasize the importance of ensuring voluntary and informed choices in matters related to fertility control.
