Women lawyers protest forced contraception

Female lawyers across China have written to authorities to protest forced contraception measures that can cause uterine injuries, Southern Metropolis Daily said.

Thirty lawyers wrote to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, National Health and Family Planning Commission, and All-China Women's Federation, calling for a probe of regional family planning regulations and documents, and an end to practices that violate women's rights.

The lawyers' letter also urged an investigation into forced contraception measures, including labor induction.

It was signed by lawyers from more than a dozen regions, including Beijing and Shanghai, as well as Shandong and Henan provinces.

Liu Wei, a lawyer from Henan province, said the family planning regulations give consent to induced labor and tubal ligation, and should be expunged from regional documents.

Beijing lawyer Huang Yizhi said women and their spouses should be free to choose condom or pills for family planning.