KELIN and University of Western Cape discuss the role of national human rights institutions in advancing SRHR

Over the past few years, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) have increasingly gained recognition. Both the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights have given normative content to these rights through numerous Resolutions, Concluding Observations and General Comments such as General Comment Article 14(1) (d) and (e) of the Maputo Protocol and General Comment No. 22 of 2016 respectively.

The growing prominence of SRHR across Africa provides national human rights institutions (NHRIs) with an opportunity to play an active role in promoting and protecting sexual and reproductive rights particularly for vulnerable and marginalised groups in the region. Experience across Africa has shown that whereas human rights institutions are becoming active in monitoring human rights within their domains, these encouraging developments have not always been applied to issues relating to sexual and reproductive health and rights within the region.

Appreciating the role that NHRIs have played in advancing the human rights discourse and cognizant that this role can be extended to promote and protect SRHR, KELIN has jointly convened a two day Colloquium in collaboration with the Dullah Omar Institute, University of Western Cape. The meeting set to take place on 19-20 October in Johannesburg, South Africa has the following objectives:

  1. Build the capacity of NHRIs from Eastern Africa and Southern Africa regions on issues relating to SRHR
  2. Explore the role of NHRIs in ensuring accountability of states in the realization of SRHR; and

3. Experience sharing and Foster partnership between NHRIs and other stakeholders towards advancing SRHR in both regions

As a result of this forum, KELIN and Dullah Omar Institute hope to provide a cross learning platform where Commissioners from NHRIs in Eastern and Southern Africa can develop a shared understanding of the role NHRIs can play to advance SRHR.

To contribute to the discussions on this forum follow KELIN on our social media platforms:

Twitter: @KELINKenya using hashtag #breakingthebarriers #SRHR #NHRI

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya

 

For more information contact:

Nerima Were

Programme Officer Sexual & Reproductive Health Rights

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

4th Floor, Somak Building, Mombasa Road

Tel +254202515790

Email: nwere@kelinkenya.org