A Powerful New Report on Obstetric and Gynecological Violence Among First Nations Women in Quebec

Press Release

To give a voice to First Nations women and continue documenting their realities, research on obstetric and gynecological violence (OGV) has entered a second phase.

The first report, published in 2022 and entitled “Free and informed consent and imposed sterilizations among First Nations and Inuit women in Quebec,” demonstrated that imposed sterilizations were performed on First Nations and Inuit women in Quebec. A total of 35 testimonies were collected, 22 of which reported imposed sterilizations.

On May 26, the FNQLHSSC, in collaboration with the Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador (AFNQL) and the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue (UQAT), published a second report denouncing these practices, entitled “Obstetric and Gynecological Violence and Imposed Sterilizations Among First Nations Women in Quebec – Phase II.”

Based on 97 testimonies, the second report documents three times more acts of violence than the Phase I report and demonstrates the systemic nature of these practices. Four types of OGV were identified, among which imposed sterilizations remain the most prevalent with 55 reported cases.

Key findings include:

• Indigenous and non-Indigenous women are treated differently, but this treatment is very similar from one nation and region to another, demonstrating the presence of systemic racism and discrimination within the healthcare system.
• The power dynamic between healthcare staff and First Nations women makes it impossible for women to provide voluntary, prior, and informed consent.
• Among the documented cases of imposed sterilization, many survivors reported not having signed a consent form or not knowing if they had. Others said they had signed it under unacceptable conditions: under pressure, during labour, having been convinced that the procedure was reversible, or with their hands guided by healthcare staff.
• Many instances of discriminatory violence based on ethnicity have been reported: reports at birth, suspicion of abuse due to the presence of a Mongolian spot, blood tests on the baby without consent, and imposed abortions.

Support
Resources and support are available for survivors:

• Survivors Circle for Reproductive Justice support line
  Available 24/7
  1-877-386-0750 (extension 113 for service in French)
• Hope for Wellness Helpline: 1-855-242-3310, or by chat

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