Written question asked by David Amess (Conservative) on Wednesday, 21 July 2010, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 26 July 2010. It was answered by Jeremy Browne (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 27 July 2010 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

South Africa and Namibia: Sterilisation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the practice of forced sterilisation in (a) South Africa and (b) Namibia; whether he has made representations to the government of (i) South Africa and (ii) Namibia in consequence; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The UK is closely following Namibia's ongoing court case involving the alleged sterilisation of three HIV-positive women. Although we cannot comment on the case while it is sub judice, the UK will continue to monitor allegations of human rights abuses and promote women's rights including through the Department for International Development's Southern African regional programmes. We are not aware of any reports of cases of forced sterilisation in South Africa.

Secondary information