A human rights approach to involuntary sterilization of poor women living with immunodeficiency virus in Kenya

Abstract

In 2011, a report detailing stories of HIV-Positive women being forcefully sterilised, was realised by the African Gender and Media Initiative (Gender and Media Initiative). Some of the women in the report were forced to undergo sterilisation in hospitals while giving birth without proper education on the effects of the procedure. The report indicated that majority of HIV-Positive women from impoverished areas within Kenya, have undergone forced sterilisation This research is based on two problematic areas. The first one is the involuntary sterilisation o poor women living with HIV in Kenya. A survey conducted by the International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa concluded that 20 of the 72 HIV positive women sampled, had undergone forced sterilisation. In Kenya, 40 women who were interviewed by the Gender ad Media Initiative had been forcibly sterilised. These numbers show a pattern and a confirmation that indeed there is a problem where women living with HIV are sterilised against their will. The second problematic area is the response from the government which has not done much to elevate the situation. The Kenyan government has been issuing statements against involuntary sterilisation of poor women living with HIV. The response cannot be said to be human rights based. This is because, according to the human rights approach theory, the government will be said to have taken a human rights approach when it introduces and implements policies against this vice. A human rights approach is meant to issue lasting solutions.