KELIN contributes to the 2017 Bergen Exchanges on Law and Social Transformation

KELIN’s Deputy Director, Saoyo Tabitha Griffith, participated in a week long public discourse, from 19- 25 August 2017, at the Bergen Exchanges on law and social transformation in Norway. The discourse, which was hosted by the Centre on Law and Social Transformation in collaboration with the University of Bergen, was centered on examining the strategic uses of rights and law and how legal institutions function as arenas for political contestation.

Topics such as politicization of gender and sexuality in the media, contemporary human rights challenges in the USA, child marriage laws in Africa and the need for an international convention on violence against woman are some of the issues that were deliberated during this year’s Bergen exchanges. More specifically, this year’s forum saw KELIN undertake a presentation on the political determinants of sexual and reproductive health rights and in particular, interrogating the determinants that push or prevent the advancement of abortion in Kenya. KELIN’s presentation evaluated the existing legislative framework regulating abortion in Kenya and in particular, the place of the Constitution, Penal Code, National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence and the more recently enacted Health Act 2017.

As a result of this platform, KELIN hopes to utilize the findings from its research to publish a series of articles in collaboration with the Centre on Law and Social Transformation.

KELIN’s Deputy Director, Saoyo Tabitha Griffith gives her contribution at the 2017 Bergen Exchanges on Law and Social Transformation.

At the end of the forum, KELIN’s Deputy Director shared her thoughts by indicating ‘I could not have asked for a better forum. This was certainly a festival of creative, brilliant minds, well worth listening to, engaging in realistic discourse on topics that are often difficult to address. I am extremely proud that KELIN is involved in such academic fields and will greatly contribute in this research’

To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms: @KELINKenya using hashtag #BergenExchanges #LawTransform

 

For more information please contact;

Tabitha Griffith Saoyo

Deputy Executive Director

Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)

4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road Tel +254202515790;

Email: tsaoyo@kelinkenya.org