By Kamau Muthoni
Jul 12th 2022
A judgement in the US that ended the right to abortion has thrust two Kenyan cases into the limelight.
The US Supreme Court, last month, reversed Roe v. Wade, declaring that the constitutional right to abortion, upheld for nearly a half a century, no longer exists.
Unsafe abortion: The problem nobody wants to
talk about
By MERCY KAHENDA AND SAADA HASSAN
August 31st 2020
The images still sneak up to her when she least expects. They come unannounced,
and they torture her. Eve never imagined that the process of trying to get rid
of an unplanned baby could leave her with physical and emotional scars that
have refused to go away.
When she speaks of abortion, she whispers. The shame she feels lingers in every
word she utters.
“I get bad dreams and I am haunted by the
act,” she says.
Health lobbies condemn anti-abortion billboards
Tuesday April 23 2019
By ABIUD OCHIENG
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has called on the government to give support and protection to women and girls seeking abortion services.
The CSOs have particularly taken an issue with billboards erected in parts of Nairobi that portray abortion as murder and argue such blanket condemnation may lead to violation of women’s reproductive health rights.
Continued: https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Health-lobbies-condemn-anti-abortion-billboards/1056-5083830-gdafbk/
Abortion: Rights group sues ministry, officials over Marie Stopes ban
Dec. 01, 2018
By LILLIAN MUTAVI
The Centre for Reproductive Rights on Friday sued the Ministry of Health and other state officials over the recent ban on Marie Stopes over safe abortions.
The lobby group filed a suit against the CS for Health, the Director of Medical Services, the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Board, the Kenya Film and Classification Board and its CEO Ezekiel Mutua.
Kenya's high court to decide on safe abortion as teenager dies
July 12, 2018
Nita Bhalla
NAIROBI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Kenya’s high court is to decide if the government is responsible for the death of a teenager from a botched backstreet abortion, campaigners said on Thursday, in a case which could see safer abortions for thousands of women in the east African nation.
The girl - known by her initials JMM to protect her identity - was raped in 2014 at the age of 15. On discovering she was pregnant, she had a backstreet abortion that left her with injuries which eventually led to her death last month.
465,000 illegal abortions performed annually in Kenya
Written By: Hallyghan Agade
July 9, 2018
It is estimated that approximately 465,000 illegal abortions are performed in Kenya each year by untrained people.
Center for Reproductive Rights-CRC further says that one out of three girls under the age of 18 experience sexual violence and over 40 percent of pregnancies are unintentional.
However, health practitioners and health rights advocates are blaming Government and religious organizations saying that they are the greatest impediment to advocacy and information regarding Reproductive Health Rights in the country.
Continued: http://www.kbc.co.ke/465000-illegal-abortions-are-carried-out-annually-in-kenya/
Bring back 'safe' abortion guidelines, say petitioners
by Paul Ogemba
Published Sat, February 3rd 2018
Two civil society organisations championing women rights put up a brave fight to compel the government to put in place guidelines for safe abortions.
Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) and the Centre for Reproductive Rights (CRR) argued that their petition was not about legalising abortion but fighting for the right of women with unwanted pregnancies and who have a right to life and to procure safe, legal abortion services.
Women still dying from unsafe abortions despite the law
Sunday October 1 2017
By AGNES ODHIAMBO
James lives in a Nairobi slum and takes care of his niece. Her mother died almost 10 years ago following complications from a botched abortion. She had become pregnant in a horrific gang rape.
“She told us that she saw three men rape her and then she lost consciousness,” James told me. “She was just quiet most of the time after the rape. She didn’t want the baby. She tried to abort three times.”
Continued at source: http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Women-still-dying-from-unsafe-abortions-despite-the-law-/440808-4118598-pnfb0v/index.html
Nov 20, 2016, Al Jazeera
By Amanda Fisher
An upcoming battle in Kenyan courts could determine future access to safe, legal abortions for women there.
Nairobi, Kenya - In the wood-panelled interior of Nairobi's High Court, a battle is due to begin on December 15 that will determine whether hundreds of thousands of women each year are committing criminal acts.
The issue of abortion in Kenya has been mired in confusion and contention for the past six years.
In 2010, a new constitution was passed, heralded globally as a progressive foundational document for its principles of gender equality in parliament; freedom of media; and formation of an independent Human Rights and Equality Commission to investigate human rights abuses.
The trouble is that much of what was included has met resistance and debate.
[continued at link]
Source: Al Jazeera
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