Working paper on disability, fertility and contraception

Abstract

This paper outlines the international and domestic law and policy context of fertility and contraception issues for persons with disabilities in Ireland. Throughout the world, the fertility of persons with disabilities has often been subject to coercive control, with eugenic practices featuring in some public health policies1. In this paper, we explore to what extent these policies and practices appear in Irish law, and compare Irish law and policy on fertility and contraception for disabled people to international human rights obligations.