Lord Alton urges EU to act on forced abortions of disabled women

Lord David Alton has called on European governments to act after the UN raised concerns over ongoing reports of forced abortions and sterilisation of women with disabilities in some EU member states.

The issue was highlighted during a March 2025 session of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Markus Schefer, a UN Committee expert, said that “forced sterilisation and forced abortions were still being perpetrated” within EU countries. He added that such acts had not been criminalised and there were “no policy measures addressing these acts of barbarism.”

In response, the EU delegation referenced a forthcoming “women’s rights roadmap”, which is expected to include recommendations on harmful practices.

Speaking to Christian Daily International, Lord Alton described the situation as “an appalling crime and a stain upon those EU Member States that fail to criminalise or otherwise suppress such actions.”

He continued: “We owe people with disabilities a special duty of care… any state that forces abortions or sterilisations on these women fails in that duty.”

Lord Alton cited a 2019 UK case where a court initially ruled that a woman with a learning disability should undergo an abortion at 22 weeks, despite her objection. The ruling was later overturned. He warned that both the UK and EU must ensure such violations never occur again.

He further urged the EU to uphold its 2023 commitment to the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, which combats violence against women.

“It is vital to empower and support women with disabilities to continue their pregnancies,” he said, “rather than be coerced or forced into ending the lives of their unborn children."

Lord Alton concluded: “Now is the time for Europe to demonstrate its commitment to upholding fundamental human rights, protecting every life regardless of disability.”