The workshop provided an opportunity for the sensitization of judicial officers about the relationship between TB, human rights and the law, with a focus on international law and domestic jurisprudence from around the world. It provided an avenue for judges to be informed on the biomedical, social, and economic aspects of the TB epidemic in the region. At the workshop, judicial officers also listened to testimonies from TB survivors and heroes such as Phumeza Tisile, Elizabeth Wangechi, Duncan Moeketse, Paul Ndirangu Mwangi, Paul Moses Ndegwa and Stephen Anguva. Elizabeth, who is the first lady to be cured of XDRTB in Kenya, highlighted the devastating impact of TB when she said:
“I didn’t know that I could have courage to stand before you, to stand before everyone to talk about this hectic disease. I’m smiling, but two years ago the words – smile, love, they were no longer in my heart.”
The workshop was organized by KELIN, in partnership with International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, Stop TB Partnership and the Judicial Training Institute of Kenya and builds on a similar dialogue held in New Delhi, India in 2015. Participants adopted the draft strategy dubbed “the Nairobi strategy”, which seeks to ensure that a human rights based approach to TB is advanced across the world.
While giving his closing reflections Justice Dingake, from the Botswana high court, had this to say:
“We are much more powerful and effective when we act together physicians, nurses, lawyers, social workers, and society activists and judges—acting on the basis of scientific evidence having the heart, brain, and courage. Only when we act together—with human rights as our tool of trade can we succeed to tear down the mighty walls of injustice and prejudice”.
In due course we will share the videos and written speeches of the speakers and the TB survivors.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms: Twitter: @KELINkenya using these hashtag: #TBRights; 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
Brian Citro
Clinical Lecturer in Law
Associate Director, International Human Rights Clinic
University of Chicago Law School
6020 S. University Ave | Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-0758 | citro@uchicago.edu
http://ihrclinic.uchicago.edu/
