Project No. 77(II)

Commenced: 1981
Completed: 1994

The Commission prepared a discussion paper on the broader reference in 1988. A number of submissions received in response to the discussion paper referred to the question of sterilisation of children. As a result of these submissions and developments in the law following the release of the discussion paper, the Commission decided to divide the reference into two parts. This part deals with the question whether sterilisation of children should be permissible, and if so, in what circumstances; and whether parents should be able to consent to such a procedure or whether it should be carried out under the authority of a court.