"To reduce the rate of population growth in Uzbekistan, the authorities are introducing in the society a radical method of contraception: the forced sterilization of women of childbearing age", said Tamara Chikunova. Tamara, an activist for human rights and against the death penalty coming from the Central Asian country, spoke at the panel dedicated to violence against women, at the international meeting "The courage to hope" organized in Rome by the Community of Sant'Egidio.

The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, as reported by the Uzbek activist, issued a decree on resumption of sterilization, calling it “the most effective form of contraception”. Following this decision, tens of thousands of Uzbek women in their reproductive age were forcibly sterilized.

"The operation - said mrs. Chikunova - was carried out unbeknown to the patients, usually with tubal ligation after cesarean section, but in some cases they also removed the uterus".