Councillor Eder Borges of former President Jair Bolsonaro's Liberal Party introduced the motion, arguing it would address issues related to homelessness and substance abuse.

However critics have labelled the proposal as "eugenicist" and "Nazi".

Borges's motion, released on 1 October, calls for the implementation of contraceptive methods including tubal ligation and vasectomy for homeless individuals who refuse detoxification treatment.

The council approved the motion on 8 October, forwarding it to the city government, though the administration is not obligated to act on the recommendation.

Proposal sparks outrage and condemnation

The motion has sparked a widespread backlash.

Father Julio Lancellotti, a prominent human rights advocate and vicar for the homeless in the Archdiocese of São Paulo, denounced the proposal on social media, criticising it as dehumanising.

Lancellotti, known for his advocacy for the poor, has called the suggestion a violation of basic human rights.

"We have heard of sporadic cases over the years of women who were sterilised against their will. But that's the first time a suggestion of such a nature has become public" said Ivone Perassa, coordinator of the Bishops Conference's Homeless Pastoral Ministry.

She noted that the motion reinforces harmful stereotypes, referencing 19th-century ideologies that portrayed the poor as "dirty" and a source of disease.

Borges defends motion amid criticism

In a video statement, Borges defended his proposal claiming it aims to prevent the birth of children into difficult conditions.

He also attacked Lancellotti, accusing him of being a "communist" and insinuating inappropriate conduct.

"That kind of idea is populist. He's trying to draw support from part of society, as if that suggestion could solve the serious challenges the city is facing" said Perassa, criticising Borges's proposal as a simplistic solution to complex problems.

Concerns over human rights and ethical implications

Human rights advocates have raised serious concerns over the motion's implications.

Kelly Melatti, president of the Federal Council of Social Service, expressed alarm at the precedent it could set.

She noted that cases of forced sterilisation have occurred, both legally and illegally, but said Borges's motion represents a disturbing shift.

"The State doesn't offer any real alternative for the serious problems regarding inequality and extreme poverty. And some people think the solution is to dehumanise homeless people, especially women" Melatti said.

She added that such initiatives are rooted in racism and misogyny, attempting to provide "easy, moralistic answers to grave problems".

• Crux

HLI president Father Shenan Boquet said the groups that take issue with pro-family countries have a "perception that you must lessen the number of children and introduce contraception, sterilisation and legalised abortion, which they call ‘sexual reproductive health' rights, in order for you to be happy and find stability."

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The plan also covers breast pumps for nursing mothers, an annual "well woman" physical, counseling on how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and other services at no cost to the patient.

With lower costs associated with unwanted pregnancies and the treatment of STD's, supporters of the plan say that it will bring costs down

Groups such as Planned Parenthood label the move as a breakthrough for women's health.

"It's very exciting for us that women will get their birth control and not have to come up with a $5, $10 or $50 co-pay," said Carolyn Moore, a nurse practioner at Planned Parenthood.

The Catholic Church strongly opposes the move.

"We absolutely oppose it. It violates the conscious protection rights that President Obama promised he wouldn't violate with the health care laws," said Paul Simoneau with the Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.

"Catholics are not alone in conscientiously objecting to this mandate," said Cardinal Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Pro-Life Activities.

DiNardo said the pro-life majority of Americans, will be outraged to learn they will be forced to subsidise the likes of emergency contraceptives that act like the abortion drug RU-486 that aborts an established pregnancy weeks after conception.

"Although this new rule gives the agency the discretion to authorise a 'religious' exemption, it is so narrow as to exclude most Catholic social service agencies and healthcare providers," he added.

In a July 22 letter to Congress, the cardinal stated that "those who sponsor, purchase and issue health plans should not be forced to violate their deeply held moral and religious convictions in order to take part in the health care system or provide for the needs of their families or their employees."

"To force such an unacceptable choice," he wrote,"would be as much a threat to universal access to health care as it is to freedom of conscience."

Patrick J. Reilly, president of the Cardinal Newman Society. He said that the guidelines "would force Catholic colleges to violate the law or violate the Catholic faith."

Colleges may be forced to help students and employees obtain free contraceptives and sterilization, he added.

Jeanne Monahan, director of the Family Research Council's Center for Human Dignity, labelled the conscience protections as merely "fig leaf".

"This administration is promoting mandates that will violate the consciences of millions," she said

Sources

• CNA
• WBIR.com
• CNA
• Image: Life's Theme Park

The cheapest car in the world, a NZ$3,600 Tata Nano car can also be won.

"We want to promote sterilisation," Pratap Singh Dutter, the deputy chief medical officer of Jhunjhunu district in the north Indian state of Rajasthan said.

"This scheme is only to promote sterilisation in the district and we believe this incentive would help."

"Everyone who gets sterilised between today and 30 September will be entered into a lottery to win prizes."

"We felt we were falling behind on our sterilisation targets of 21,000 per year, so the district collector came up with this idea. We hope at least 6,000 people will come forward in the next three months to get sterilised," he said.

Those who don't win the limited number of prizes will be paid varying cash amounts in addition to the government's Family Welfare scheme. The Family Welfare scheme ordinarily pays NZ$27.45 to those volunteering to undergo the surgery.

According to the United Nations Population Fund, each woman in India has 2.588 children.

Recently released census data records India set to surpass China and become the world's most populous nation by 2030.

Sources

• Herald Sun
• Toronto Sun
• UPI.com