MEDIA ADVISORY

What:  Decision on the hearing date for the two landmark cases on forced and coerced sterilization of five women living with HIV.The High Court of Kenya will give direction on how two landmark cases Nairobi High Court Petition No. 605 of 2014 and Nairobi High Court Petition No. 606 of 2014 will proceed and further give a hearing date for the two cases.

Who:  The cases are about the unlawful and unconstitutional sterilization by way of tubal ligation of five women living with HIV. The women underwent the procedures without their informed consent at various health facilities in Nairobi County. The cases were brought forth by the documented experiences of 40 women living with HIV in a publication by African Gender and Media Initiative Trust (GEM) titled ‘Robbed of Choice’ where the women have narrated their experience. Enjoined in the cases are various organisations, including:SWK: PAK: GWK: AMM: KELIN: Africa Gender & Media Initiative: Médecins Sans Frontières – France: Pumwani Maternity Hospital:Marie Stopes International: Marura Maternity and Nursing Home: The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Health Services – Nairobi County and The Cabinet Secretary – Ministry of Health, Republic of Kenya.

When:  Tuesday,February 24, 2015. 0900 hrs

Where:  High Court of Kenya at Nairobi, Milimani Law Courts Court No 2 on 3rd Floor.

PLEASE NOTE: The applicants request that their names and identity should not be disclosed in the media to protect them from further disclosure of their HIV-status.

For more information contact:

Allan Achesa Maleche (Executive Director) KELIN and Advocate for the Petitioners. Tel +254202515790; Cell +254708389870; Email: amaleche@kelinkenya.org

For Twitter updates: @KELINkenya #Justice2Health

For background on the case: https://kelinkenya.org/2014/12/announcement/