The International Human Rights Day which is marked annually on December 10 also marks the end of the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence. The International Community of Women Living with HIV has during the 16 days shared findings of the study titled “Violations of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Women Living with HIV in Clinical and Community Settings in Uganda”.
During this period, ICWEA shared the purpose of the study, methodology, demographic characteristics of respondents, findings, experiences of the participants and recommendations on how to bring an end to Sexual Reproductive Health Rights Violations of women living with HIV that the study found.
One of the highlights of the study findings is that forced and coerced sterilization is one of the commonest SRHR Violation. According to the report fact sheet, “of 72 reported sterilizations, 20 women had been coerced or forced to undergo this irreversible operation.”
The fact sheet states that most cases occurred in government hospitals during childbirth when the woman got a C-section. The average age at which sterilization took place was 29. Eleven women were forced to undergo sterilization. Health workers had failed to inform them properly about the procedure. They didn’t sign a consent form. Some of them only found out years later when they failed to conceive. Nine women were coerced to undergo sterilization. In these cases mothers were misinformed. For example they understood that the procedure would be reversible: ‘tied’ tubes could be ‘untied’ later on. Or health workers convinced them that sterilization would be the best option regarding their health.
Based on these findings, ICWEA launched a one year campaign to end Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights violations, HIV criminalization and widen contraception choices for women living with HIV. Activities towards this campaign will be held in Uganda Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. The campaign has already been launched in Kenya and Uganda.
The theme for Human Rights Day 2015 “Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always” is therefore very timely. Women living with HIV have a right to enjoy their Sexual Reproductive Health Rights. As we mark the Human rights day, let us pledge to always speak against the violations and strive to see that these rights are enjoyed.
Access the report here
November 10, 2015
