Reparations for Reproductive Justice Behind Bars is a Coalition of community groups that continue to do advocacy work to support women who were forcibly sterilized in California’s Correctional System. CCWP Reparations 4 Reproductive Justice Behind Bars, Back to the Basics, and Belly of the Beast Film along with other groups like California Latina’s for Reproductive Justice, worked to ensure access to reparations for victims of state-sponsored forced sterilization. For more information on the topic you can go to the California Latina’s for Reproductive Justice Website or The Belly of the Beast Film Website.
California is now accepting applications to compensate survivors of forced sterilization. From the California Latina’s for Reproductive Justice:
“The California Forced or Involuntary Sterilization Compensation Program provides reparations to survivors of state sponsored forced or involuntary sterilizations under California’s eugenics laws from 1909-1979 and survivors of involuntary sterilizations in women’s state prisons after 1979.
Applying for compensation is completely confidential and will not impact your Medicaid, Social Security, Food Assistance, or other federal or state benefits and compensation will NOT be considered for community property, child support, restitutions or a money judgment. Visit victims.ca.gov/fiscp for more information.
This program is an important step for California in confronting its shameful history and taking a bold stand against the racist, sexist, and ableist practices that perpetuate health inequities to this day. The CA FISCP was co-sponsored by Back to the Basics Community Empowerment (B2B), California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP), California Latinas for Reproductive Justice (CLRJ), and the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) in collaboration with the Belly of the Beast filmmakers and team.”
This is work that was lead by women. We are proud to spread the word to ensure access to justice.
