Human rights
Key Correspondents health blogs' on human rights and health reveal what life is like for people facing stigma, discrimination and violence due to their age, sexuality, gender, health status or disability.
Many Key Correspondents report personal accounts of LGBT people, men who have sex with men, and people living with HIV who are struggling to access health services due to stigma and discrimination.
Many Key Correspondents advocate for the rights of women, the rights of sex workers, LGBT, MSM and people who use drugs. They report on health campaigns that bring governments to account for failing to provide health services to these groups, as well as adding their voices to grass roots campaigns around stigma reduction, health provision and harm reduction.
Human rights defenders in Africa get 1.8m Euro boost
Journalists and other human rights defenders are to get better legal, medical and family assistance under a 1.8 million Euro project launched by Pan-African Human Rights Defenders Network (PAHRD-Net). more
‘All we need to do is understand that these people are human’
In Uganda, people living with mental health problems are shunned by most of society. Many are homeless and spend their days walking from one end of the street to another or just sitting by the roadside. However, in Fort Portal, Uganda yesterday (19 November) things were different . more
‘This prison is more hell on earth than ever’
A remanded person awaiting trial at Livingstone central prison, Zambia says he fears an outbreak of cholera and scabies may soon ravage inmates due to congestion and poor sanitation. more
Can Uganda sustain its LGBTI fight with the international community?
Just when one thinks that Uganda is growing up by leaving alone people who are LGBTI something else emerges that shocks the bold hearted into action, argues James Kityo. more
Draft UN resolution on female genital mutilation submitted
The African Press Organisation reports that a draft UN resolution against female genital mutilation has been submitted by a group of African countries. more
Stigma free services vital for SRH and HIV integration
Kanakulya Godfrey, who works at the AIDS support Organisation (TASO) in Uganda on empowerment programmes for people living with HIV and AIDS, says stigma may have reduced in communities but it is always there and can manifest itself in many forms. more
Comfort and compassion during delivery an expensive affair
In Kenya, comfort and compassion during delivery is an expensive affair. Women who cannot afford to pay for admission to private facilities to deliver are subjected to verbal and physical abuse at the hands of health providers in general hospitals. more
Discrimination against sex workers – who needs sensitization?
The sun is scorching and the day does not seem very welcoming for Grace*, a sex worker in Makindu town within Makueni county, Kenya. Yesterday was not a good day for the 24-year-old mother of two. more
‘Let us have our rights’ demand HIV widows
Widows and orphans of people who have died of HIV/AIDS in Kiboga district have appealed for assistance from human rights defenders to pursue legal redress for their right to property ownership. more
The Uganda anti-homosexuality bill struggles on amid pressure
Could it be true that the anti-homosexuality bill may never live to see the dawn of a new day? more
Zimbabwe MPs learn from Zambia’s approach to anti-trafficking
Zimbabwean Members of Parliament have visited Zambia to familiarize them with Zambia’s implementation of its counter-trafficking laws. more
AIDS 2012: Justice and health access in prisons
Prisoners and HIV risks People who end up in jail often come from situations that leave them at greater risk of contracting HIV. When imprisoned the dangers multiply as many face overcrowded cells and lack basic nutrition, health, hygiene, and … more
Amsher condemns shutting down of human rights workshop in Uganda
The African Men for Sexual Health and Rights [AMSHeR] has strongly condemned the unlawful shutting down of a human rights workshop in Kampala on Monday, 18 June 2012 by the police under the auspices of Uganda’s Ethics and Integrity Minister, Simon Lokodo. more
LGBTI denied rights yet again in Uganda
Father Simon Lokodo, the Ugandan Minister of Ethics and Integrity, has caused uproar among human rights activists after daring President Obama and other Western leaders to stop giving aid to Uganda if the money is pinned to the country recognising the rights of gays and lesbians. more
Repeal draconic laws, UN human rights chief Pillay urges Zim government
The United Nations’ Navanethem Pillay has urged the Zimbabwean government to repeal legislation that is misused by some prosecutors to block release after bail has been granted without providing a reason for this action. more
Global Week of Action – Robin Hood Tax and G8
KC Ishdeep Koholi on the Robin Hood Tax global week of action, which took place from May 18 to May 22 in the wake of the G8 Summit at Camp David. more
Press Release: Transgender persons ‘lost in translation’
Groundbreaking study released yesterday to mark the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia (17 May 2012) more
Former Polish president joins Global Commission to urge new drug laws
Full press statement from the Global Commission on Drugs more
Spectrum urges Uganda government to stop violence based on sexual orientation
The coordinator of Spectrum Uganda has urged the government of Uganda to stop any acts of state orchestrated sexual based violence against LGBTI in Uganda. more
Uganda human rights groups welcome passing of Anti- Torture Act
A number of human rights organizations in Uganda have welcomed the move by the parliament of Uganda in passing the anti-torture bill into law. more
Female circumcision in Samburu, Kenya: where culture is above the law
How do you help people who don’t think their rights are being violated? KC Sidi Sarro reports on female circumcision in Samburu, in the Rift Valley, northern Kenya. more
Kenya generic HIV drugs court ruling sets precedent for Uganda
Thousands of people living with HIV and AIDS in East Africa were given new hope last week (25 April), when a High Court judge in Nairobi ruled that Kenya’s anti counterfeit law was unconstitutional in its interpretation of generic HIV drugs as illegal counterfeits. more
Zim’s civil society concerned over criminalisation of sex work
Zimbabwe’s civil society organisations (CSOs) are concerned over the approach of the state in addressing sex work, according to a 2012 shadow report made to the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) committee. … more
Zimbabwe’s ‘failure to address root cause of sex work’ criticised by UN
The United Nations (UN) Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) committee says it is concerned at Zimbabwe’s failure to address the root causes of trafficking and sex work. This is revealed in the report … more
Disparities hinder passage of common East African AIDS drugs-access laws
Disparities between the views of East African community (EAC) member countries are complicating efforts to pass a common intellectual property law that would enable access to antiretrovirals to be scaled- up in the area, a regional meeting of East African Health rights NGOs was told last week (12 April 2012). more
‘Kenyans still biased towards marginalized groups’, finds report
It may not be possible for Kenyans living with HIV and those who are gay to seek elective office after all, according to findings of a recent report. A new report indicates that Kenyans would not trust this group … more
Criticism as Cameroon police shut down human rights workshop
The African Men for Sexual Health and Rights [AMSHeR] based in Johannesburg, South Africa has strongly condemned the unlawful shutting down by the police of a human rights workshop in Cameroon’s capital Yaoundé at the end of March. Scheduled to … more
Civil society unite against Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill
A coalition of civil society groups in Uganda have petitioned members of parliament in Uganda and beyond to protect the country’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people whose rights are threatened by the looming anti-homosexuality law. more
Jessica’s story part two: is criminalising abortion the answer?
KC Sidi Sarro revisits Jessica, a female sex worker from Rongai, Kenya more
LGBT people risk arrest to attend secret HIV testing session
A secret location in Kampala, Uganda has seen LGBT people attend voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT). more
Sex workers and their rights
Jackie has been verbally, sexually and physically assaulted by her clients on numerous occasions and has had to bear it silently because she had nowhere or no-one to turn to.
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Stop the Uganda anti-homosexuality bill!
The re-tabling of Uganda’s anti-homosexuality bill threatens to institutionalize discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender persons. more
