SINGAPORE, Oct 17 — Changes to the Voluntary Sterilisation Act were passed in Parliament yesterday, bringing the Act in line with the United Nations Convention in according persons with hereditary illnesses or mental disabilities the same legal rights as others.
The Act was last reviewed almost four decades ago, in 1974. Under the amendments — which are expected to take effect by the end of the year — those with mental or hereditary illnesses, but are deemed to still be able to decide on whether they should be sterilised, can now give consent before sexual sterilisation takes place. Full story
