The Depo-Provera Affair: Forced Contraception on Ethiopian-Israeli Women

What Happened?

In 2012, Channel 1 and investigative journalist Efrat Yerday exposed that Ethiopian-Israeli women — particularly in transit camps — were injected with Depo-Provera (a progesterone contraceptive shot) every three months. Many women did not know it was contraception and did not give informed consent.

Scale

According to bioethicist Dr. Ricki Shalev (Tel Aviv) who researched the issue, potentially hundreds to thousands of women received injections without full consent.

Government Response

2013: Ministry of Health instructed health funds not to administer Depo-Provera to Ethiopian women without informed consent. No criminal investigation. No official apology.

Rights of Victims

If you received Depo-Provera before 2013 without full explanation:

• Tebeka (free legal advice): 1-800-20-20-16
• Maatzimot (Ethiopian women's org): maatzimot.org.il

📞 1-800-20-20-16 | maatzimot.org.il