The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 12 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

KELIN: Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV and AIDS

0 comments

This non-governmental organisation (NGO) works for the promotion and protection of HIV-related human rights in Kenya. Formed in 1994 and registered as an NGO in 2001, KELIN works with vulnerable and often marginalised groups such as people living with HIV (PLHIV) and most-at-risk populations (MARPs). It also appreciates the importance of engaging with key stakeholders and policymakers and involving itself in the process of policy development and reform in order to influence and improve protection against health- and HIV-related human rights violations for such groups. KELIN strives to work not only with the rights holders but also with the duty bearers and the community in general.

Communication Strategies

KELIN's work involves:

  • Building and strengthening capacities: This programme involves the education of members of the community, professionals, and students on various human rights components relating to health and HIV. This capacity building includes training around: human rights, HIV and gender-related rights, stigma and discrimination, legal and ethical issues relating to HIV, HIV and vulnerable populations, HIV in the workplace, legal and ethical issues in the context of biomedical research, health as a human right, and the rights-based approach to programming. Activities include structured trainings, professional seminars such as Continuing Legal Education and Continuing Medical Education, and informal talks during community activities. The training modules are adjusted to suit the circumstances of each group. The aim of the training is not only to make people aware of their rights but also to enable them to identify the human rights violations and report them. The training is carried out in a participatory manner, and it is an experiential learning process that involves the use of structured presentations, case studies, and group work. All the presentations are made through PowerPoint using a liquid-crystal display (LCD), flipcharts, and handouts.

     

    For example, in June 2013, KELIN, in partnership with the National Empowerment Network of People living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), conducted a sensitisation forum for 23 health care workers from the counties of Mombasa and Kilifi. The forum sought to strengthen their capacity to appreciate legal and ethical obligations in advancing the rights of PLHIV and key populations in order to create an enabling environment in the provision of health service delivery.

  • Advocacy and lobbying: KELIN is involved in the development of laws, polices, strategies, and programmes which deal with health- and HIV-related human rights. This approach aims to ensure that government departments incorporate a rights-based approach. With the enactment of the new Constitution of the Republic of Kenya, KELIN is also keen to monitor the implementation of the socio-economic rights provided for in this Constitution. The advocacy and lobbying is done locally, regionally, and international. Locally, KELIN advocates by taking up cases identified by the community members they have trained. These cases are then presented to the relevant duty bearers at national stakeholder forums. Regionally and internationally, KELIN partners with various organisations to advocate for changes in laws and policies.
  • Research and documentation: KELIN members have been involved in research around emerging legal and human rights issues relating to health and HIV.
  • Legal support and litigation: This includes: (i) conducting legal aid clinics; (ii) providing legal advice; (iii) using alternative dispute resolution methods (e.g., KELIN is utilising community structures to address the legal and human rights concerns of widows, orphans, and other vulnerable groups in the community with regard to property inheritance and ownership); and (iv) providing litigation support with regards to matters relating to health and human rights. (Also, there is a database of 140 KELIN pro-bono lawyers, who offer free legal advice and litigation support to clients of KELIN).

Visit the KELIN website for additional examples and recent actions.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Rights

Partners

Supported by the Open Society Foundations

Sources

Email from Brett Davidson to The Communication Initiative on July 16 2013; and KELIN website, July 17 2013.