Book discussion: Why does Finland not apologise for its past sterilisation and castration policies?

Like its Nordic neighbours, Finland has carried out sterilisations and castrations against various groups and individuals throughout its modern history: from the first sterilisations at the beginning of the twentieth century to the repeal of the so-called ‘Trans Act’ in 2023. The sterilisations and castrations have sometimes been carried out using various types of coercion, for example by using sterilisation as a condition to access other rights, such as abortion, social support, freedom from institutionalisation, or an amendment of legally registered gender. The interventions have affected many different individuals and groups, such as poor women, Romani people, people with disabilities, sex offenders and trans people.

Unlike Sweden and Norway, however, Finland has not remedied previous laws and practices. How can the differences between the countries be contextually understood? This issue is discussed in the recently published book Grievance Formation, Rights and Remedies: Involuntary Sterilisation and Castration in the Nordics, 1930s-2020s (Cambridge University Press, 2023).

On Saturday 18 November between 7-8:30 PM, the book’s author, Daniela Alaattinoğlu (University of Turku), discusses the situation in Finland together with Panda Eriksson (former chairperson of Trasek) and Frank Lundgren (Steg för Steg). Why does Finland have such a restricted remedial culture? Why did it take so long for Finland to abolish the sterilisation requirement for legal gender recognition? What initiatives have there been to challenge Finnish sterilisation and castration policies?

The Swedish-language discussion is organised as a collaboration between Turku University’s research environment Law, Space and Justice, the Åbo Akademi Institute for Human Rights and ÅST, the Swedish Theatre in Turku. The discussion is financed by the Eugen Schauman Foundation.

The event is free, but interested participants are asked to register in advance to better estimate the number of visitors: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/steriliserings-och-kastreringspolitik-i-finland-bokdiskussion-tickets-744027926557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Location: Tiljan @ Åbo Svenska Teater, Aurakatu, Turku, Finland

For more information about the event, availability, etc., please contact daniela.alaattinoglu@utu.fi.

The book can be purchased at: https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/grievance-formation-rights-and-remedies/95B4D6259193DB6BC152E6C1323C2614