The home’s manager recommended that Anita undergo a hysterectomy, a major surgical procedure to remove her uterus and end her periods. Eirikur Smith, an official in Iceland’s disabilities office, discovered this plan last year during a routine visit to the home. And records show that the Istanbul treaty’s official watchdog has repeatedly criticized governments for not doing enough to protect disabled people. (The United States has signed but not ratified a separate treaty on the issue and sterilization laws vary by state). The result is that people with intellectual disabilities — mostly women — are still being sterilized, even when it is not medically necessary.

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Persons: Anita, Eirikur Smith, ”, “, ’ ”, ’ Organizations: European Union, Istanbul Convention, New York Times, Istanbul treaty’s, United Locations: Reykjavik, Iceland, Istanbul, United States