KELIN Lawyers Participate in Regional Training on Health and Human Rights

On 29 June 2016, in Johannesburg, Ms. Caroline Oduor, Ms. Jacqueline Waihenya, Mr. Nduru Gichamba and Mr. Nelson Osiemo participated in a regional training event for African lawyers on “Removing legal barriers to treatment: Legal training on health and human rights.” The Southern African Litigation Centre organized the event with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a principle recipient of a regional grant of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Sixty lawyers from Botswana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe participated in the three day training.  The training was designed to help expand the capacities of the lawyers from the above-mentioned countries to successfully identify, strategize and litigate cases that advance health rights and health. This in the long run would contribute to removing legal barriers to effective HIV and TB health responses as envisioned by the regional grant.

Mr. Allan Maleche represented KELIN at the meeting and shared the experience on litigating TB cases before the High Court of Kenya. Mr. Osiemo, a KELIN probono lawyer equally shared his ongoing cases before the HIV & AIDS Tribunal in Kenya and received valuable feed.  At the end of the training Mr. Osiemo noted that

“I am glad that this training speaks to me and the cases I have back at home relating to persons who are living to HIV whose rights have been violated. I am now sufficiently prepared to represent my clients to the best of my ability.”

This workshop is vital as it contributes to one of the core objectives of the Global Fund 2017 – 2022 strategy to promote and protect human rights and gender equality. It is also in line with UNAIDS seven key programmes to reduce stigma and discrimination, and increase access to justice in National HIV response.

To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms: Twitter: @KELINkenya using these hashtag #HIVRights; #TBRights; and #HealthLitigation Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya

For more information contact:

Allan Maleche

Executive Director,

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

4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road

Tel +254202515790; Cell +254708389870

Email: amaleche@kelinkenya.org