Activists up in arms with EAC’s SRHR Bill 2017
PRO-LIFE campaigners from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have made a protest to the Clerk of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Mr John Mutega, regarding the East African Community (EAC) Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Bill, 2017.
The activists presented their protest note after a meeting with the EALA’s Committee on General Purpose which was held in Kigali, Rwanda under the Chairmanship of Mr Dennis Namara.
Mr Dennis Namara resolved the matter to be forwarded to the Speaker of the House, Mr Ngoga Martin, to make a decision in line with Standing Orders of EALA.
Following numerous concerns raised by various stakeholders, the EALA last year withdrew the EAC Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) Bill, 2017, paving the way for the Committee on General Purpose to re-draft the legislation afresh.
The House approved a report of the committee presented by Mr Namara, putting on ice the legislation, until such time, a fresh Bill that incorporates various views and concerns of stakeholders, is re-drafted.
The pro-life defenders who presented the protest note were led by the Director of Pro-Life Tanzania who is also the Director of Human Life International for English speaking countries in Africa, Mr Emil Hagamu.
He was accompanied by Director of Pro-Life Uganda, Reverend Jonathan Opio and Youth Coordinator of Pro-life and Pro- Family Kenya, Tobioa Naruki as well as Director of Pro-Life Rwanda, Aloys Ndengey.
The defenders were equally happy that the Bill has not sailed through during the 4th Assembly of EALA whose tenure expires in December this year.
The controversial Bill was introduced in 2017 during the 3rd Assembly of the EALA by then member of the assembly, Dr Odette Nyiramirimo from Rwanda.
The Bill was presented for the First Reading on January 28, 2017 and accordingly, referred to the Committee on General Purpose of the 3rd Assembly.
During the withdraw of the controversial bill in February, last year, Mr Namara informed the august House of a number of identified gaps in the envisaged Bill.
Mr Namara informed the Assembly that stakeholders had identified a number of areas of contestation as the Bill was read before them for consideration.
Principally, he said the language contained in the Bill, did not align with the domestic laws of Partner States, as well as with other international instruments.
Further on, Mr Namara informed the Assembly, the said Bill’s content, included what was deemed to be varying understanding of the term ‘abortion services’ in the EAC region.
“The grounds for access to safe abortion vary in different countries in the EAC. The reproductive health rights of adolescents and young people beyond just HIV protection are absent.
At the same time, male involvement in Sexual Reproductive Health Rights, is completely absent from the Bill,” the legislator said.
The Bill is premised on Article 118 of the Treaty for the Establishment of East African Community, which provides for co-operation in health and promoting the management of health delivery systems.
