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Between 1996 and 2000 more than 280,000 women were sterilised in Peru, many of them against their will. Most of the women were from poor indigenous communities. The sterilisations were carried out as part of a controversial family planning programme launched by the country's populist president, Alberto Fujimori.

Witness has spoken to one of the women who was sterilised and to a Peruvian doctor who refused to take part in the scheme.

Listeners may find some of the accounts in this programme upsetting.

Photo: Felicia Mamaniconsa, a victim of forced sterilisation (credit: Ronald Reategui).