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Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights

SALC’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights programme has the following objectives:

  • To ensure a human rights approach in management of teenage/adolescent and learner pregnancy
  • To challenge the practice of child and forced marriage
  • To ensure accountability for health care violations relating to sexual and reproductive health rights
  • To promote recognition and respect for sexual and reproductive health rights
  • To challenge laws and practices that violate sexual and reproductive health rights
  • To ensure accountability for and eradication of gender-based violence.

Current cases:

Completed cases:

Publications:

Submissions

Advocacy:

Freedom of Expression, Assembly and AssociationHealth RightsNewsSADCSexual and Reproductive Health RightsSOGIE Rights

STATEMENT CALLING ON SADC MEMBER STATES TO PRIORITISE LGBTQI+ RIGHTS

In March 2022, over 60 LGBTIQ+ activists from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region met in Johannesburg to strengthen regional collaboration and promote strategies that advance the rights and well-being of LGBTIQ+ persons within the Southern Africa region. The convening noted that few SADC Member States had taken any…
Bradley Fortuin
11 Jul 2022
NewsResearch Reports & Policy BriefsResourcesSexual and Reproductive Health RightsSOGIE RightsZambia

LAUNCH OF REPORT ON LGBTIQ+ LIVED EXPERIENCES IN ZAMBIA

On 5 April 2022, TransBantu Zambia (TBZ) in partnership with Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) launched a research report on lived experiences of LGBTIQ+ persons in Zambia entitled “Key issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity and expression identified by a community consultation in Zambia”. The report is intended to…
Thabo Buthelezi
5 Apr 2022
Criminal JusticeHealth RightsMalawiNewsSexual and Reproductive Health Rights

MALAWI NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO SUPPORT THE DECRIMINALISATION OF CONSENSUAL SEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ADOLESCENTs

1 April 2022, Malawi  We applaud the parliament for considering the plight of the Malawian boy child. CHREAA has seen a lot of young boys being incarcerated for indulging in consensual and non-exploitative sexual relations with their female peers. CHREAA will always be against any kind of sexual exploitation of…
Thabo Buthelezi
1 Apr 2022
BotswanaHealth RightsJudgmentsSexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Botswana: Accountability for violation of rights of woman seeking reproductive healthcare in state institutions

SALC supported a case in which the Plaintiff, who had undergone a total abdominal hysterectomy and developed complications, and she was later diagnosed as having a vaginal fistula. She failed to get adequate care and timely diagnosis and treatment of her problem and commenced legal proceedings against the defendant, in…
Thabo Buthelezi
29 Mar 2022
International Criminal JusticeOngoing casesSexual and Reproductive Health Rights

THE PROSECUTOR V DOMINIC ONGWEN: JOINT AMICUS CURIAE SUBMISSION BY SALC AND PROF. BONITA MEYERSFELD

In the seminal case of The Prosecutor v Dominic Ongwen before the International Criminal Court (ICC), SALC and Prof. Bonita Meyersfeld have been admitted as amicus curiae. Dominic Ongwen (Mr. Ongwen) was convicted of crimes against humanity and war crimes by Trial Chamber IX of the ICC on 4 February…
Staff Writer
14 Feb 2022
Children's RightsMalawiNewsSexual and Reproductive Health Rights

MEDIA ADVISORY: CHALLENGE TO USE OF DEFILEMENT OFFENCES AGAINST ADOLESCENTS ENGAGED IN CONSENSUAL SEX IN MALAWI

Blantyre, 14 January 2022 – On 15 January 2022, the Malawi High Court sitting as a Constitutional Court will hear an application made by two minors AJ and TS who are challenging the constitutionality of the offence of defilement where it applies to consensual and non-exploitative sexual relationships between adolescent…
Staff Writer
14 Feb 2022
BlogChildren's RightsCriminal JusticeMalawiSexual and Reproductive Health Rights

Ending impunity for police officers who commit sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Malawi

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV),  inflicts harm on women and girls and is a severe violation of bodily integrity and autonomy, especially when perpetrated by persons in positions of authority, such as Police officers.  As we commemorate the Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and embark on 16 days…
Staff Writer
30 Nov 2021