KELIN is involved in the development of laws, polices, strategies and programmes which deal with health and HIV related human rights. This approach aims to ensure that government departments incorporate a rights-based approach in order for them to serve the needs of the people. With the enactment of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kenya, KELIN is also keen to monitor the implementation of the socio economic rights provided for in this Constitution.
The advocacy and lobbying is done locally, regionally and at an international level. Locally, KELIN advocates by taking up cases identified by the community members they have trained. These cases are then presented to the relevant duties bearers at national stakeholder forums. Regionally and internationally, KELIN partners with organizations such as OSI, WAC, ARASA and TAC to advocate for changes in laws and policies at the international level.
KELIN has had success in various advocacy campaigns. Below are some of the activities we have been involved in:
I. National Advocacy forum for the operationalization and implementation of the provisions of the HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Bill, now HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Act. Nairobi June 2008
II. National Advocacy forum on legal, ethical and human rights issues relating to orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs). Nairobi December 2009
III. National Advocacy forum on the protection of the rights to property and registration and identification documents for OVCs. Nairobi June 2010
IV. Participation in the advocacy forum “We Are Watching” campaign at the 19th World Economic Forum with the aim of challenging irresponsible spending by African leaders in light of health priorities. Capetown 2009
V. Participation in the drafting of the memorandum Health is Wealth. A memorandum from participants at the African Civil Society Advocacy Forum to attendees of the 20th World Economic Forum.
VI. Participation in human rights and HIV & AIDS “Now More Than Ever” march and rally in Vienna during the XVIII International AIDS Conference. Vienna, July 2010
VII. Participation in the advocacy and lobby forum as lead up to the 15th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union , Kampala, July 2010
VIII. Participation in the “Warembo ni Yes” campaign. The movement was conceived by the women’s arm of the community group Bunge la Mwananchi and was created to educate and prompt women to vote yes for the proposed constitution.
Below are some of the laws, policies, strategies and programmes that members of KELIN have contributed to:
I. Sessional Paper No. 4 of 1997 on HIV and AIDS which eventually led to the formulation of the National HIV and AIDS Policy in 1997.
II. The Guidelines for Ethical Conduct of Biomedical Research Involving Human Subjects in Kenya NCST No. 45 of 2004
III. The Kenya National Guidelines for Research and Development of HIV Vaccines March 2005.
IV. The HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2006
V. The East African Community HIV & AIDS Prevention and Control Bill 2010
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