Banjul, The Gambia — May 13, 2026
KELIN is honoured to participate in the 87th Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), marking the 45th anniversary of the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Held under the African Union theme, “Year of Water Sustainability: Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063,” the session brings together States, civil society, and human rights actors to reflect on key human rights issues across the continent. The public session, which commenced on 11 May 2026 and runs until 20 May 2026, provides an important platform for dialogue on state obligations, accountability, and the advancement of human rights in Africa.
In its statement[1] before the Commission, KELIN’s Senior Programme Officer – SRHR, Ms. Elsie Milimu, highlighted the lived realities of women and girls across Africa and underscored the close link between access to water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH), and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). KELIN emphasized that the right to health under Article 16 of the African Charter and Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol cannot be realised without safe and reliable access to water and sanitation. These rights are interconnected with the rights to dignity, food, and a healthy environment. KELIN is calling on African Union Member States to:
⦁ Recognize safe water, sanitation, and hygiene as essential to the realization of health and reproductive rights;
⦁ Increase integrated investments in WASH and SRHR systems;
⦁ Strengthen accountability during State reporting processes; and
⦁ Increase domestic financing for health and water systems in line with the Abuja Declaration and regional human rights obligations.
As part of its engagement with regional human rights mechanisms, on 18th and 19th May, KELIN will also engage the Commission during the review of the Republic of Kenya’s 14th Periodic State Report and the 2nd Report on the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa. During the review, KELIN will reference its shadow report[2] and spotlight both progress and persistent gaps in the realization of the right to health in Kenya, including challenges linked to weak implementation of laws and policies, inadequate financing, and systemic governance barriers. KELIN will further call on the Government of Kenya to strengthen compliance with its obligations under Article 16 of the African Charter, Article 14 of the Maputo Protocol, and the Abuja Declaration, particularly in relation to:
⦁ Social health insurance and sustainable health financing;
⦁ Health infrastructure and human resources for health;
⦁ Universal Health Coverage (UHC); and
⦁ Sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).
Beyond the 87th Ordinary Session, KELIN remains steadfast in its engagement with the National Committee on International and Regional Human Rights Obligations to advance key priorities: strengthening health financing for equitable access to care; promoting legal and policy reforms to address maternal mortality, morbidity, and obstetric violence; and inclusive indiscriminate provision of SRHR services, information and commodities for all.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our website and social media platforms.
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
Twitter(X): @KELINKenya.
For more information please contact, Elsie Milimu,
Senior Program Officer- SRHR, Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS(KELIN),
Email: elsiemilimu@kelinkenya.org
[1] https://www.kelinkenya.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/No-Water-No-Dignity-Reclaiming-Womens-Health-and-Rights-in-Africa.pdf
[2] https://www.kelinkenya.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/KELIN-87th-ACHPR-RTH-Shadow-Report-1.pdf
