TAKE ACTION : Send a letter to Namibia’s Health Minister

Scores of HIV positive women in Namibia were forcibly sterilized. A number of them have stepped forward in to sue the government for violating their fundamental rights. The hearings have sparked mass mobilizations and public demonstrations by HIV and human rights activists. Despite this, the Namibian Government has thus far refused to take the steps needed to end this practice. You can send a message to the Namibia’s Health Minister demanding that the government stop sterilizing HIV-positive women without their consent.

Send a letter to Namibia’s Health Minister demanding an end to the forced and coerced sterilization of women living with HIV.

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Petition Presented to Ministry

The petition was handed over yesterday to the Namibian Ministry of Health and Social Services following a protest in solidarity with the women who are currently in court on 01 June 2010.

In total, more than 1,100 people signed the petition calling for an immediate end to the sterilisation of HIV positive women without their informed consent.

In the photo above, Rosa Namises of the End Forced Sterilisation Coalition presents the petition to a representative from the Ministry of Health and Social Services.

photo by: Henry Luyombya, a University of Toronto student currently interning at Namibia Women’s Health Network

Petition launched to end forced sterilisation

A coalition of civil society organisations has called on Namibians to join a campaign condemning the sterilisation without informed consent, of women living with HIV.

In a briefing on Thursday morning, the organisations launched a public petition demanding that the government of Namibia, in particular the Ministry of Health and Social Services, immediately stop the sterilisation of women living with HIV, without their full and informed consent,in public health facilities in Namibia.

The press briefing was well attended

The organisations also launched a campaign, which includes plans to march in support of the women when court proceedings commence, scheduled for 20 October.

The full press release is here: End Forced Sterilisation Press Release 15 Oct

You can download the petition here: End Forced Sterilisation Petition

Twenty one people have already signed the petition: Petition 21 Signatures

Rosa Namises of Women's Solidarity, Namibia at the press briefing

Amon Ngavetene of the LAC and Veronica Kalambi of ICW