FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, 4 December 2019
On 5 December 2019, the Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa (“ISLA”) and Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (“KELIN”) will return to court as joint amicus curiae in the case in which Dr Tatu Kamau, as the Petitioner, is challenging the constitutional validity of the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (“the Anti-FGM Act”). The case commenced on 24 October 2019 before the Constitutional Division of the High Court in Kenya (“the Court”). It resumes before Justice Lydia Achode, Justice Kanyi Kimondo and Justice Margaret Muigai in court room 18, 4th floor, Milimani Law Courts as detailed in the Cause List available here: http://kenyalaw.org/kl/index.php?id=8284.
For details on the intervention that ISLA and KELIN seek to make as amici curiae in this matter, please see the press release issued at the first sitting of this matter, available here: http://www.the-isla.org/press-release-fgm-case-23-october-2019/.
The proceedings are underway with the parties presenting evidence before the court through witness testimonies. Of the 10 parties enjoined as interested parties in the proceedings, all but one oppose Dr Tatu’s petition. On this occasion, two organisations enjoined in the proceedings as interested parties are expected to present evidence before the Court. Their evidence is expected to demonstrate that the declaration sought by Dr Tatu from the Court that the Anti-FGM Act is unconstitutional for being in violation of adult consenting women’s right to culture, health and equality is untenable.
For further enquiries kindly contact:
Matilda Lasseko
ISLA VAW Lawyer
Tel: +27 11 338 9028/ +27 72 740 1764
Email: matilda@the-isla.org
Carolene Kituku
KELIN Human Rights Counsel
Tel: +254 71 026 1408
Email: ckituku@kelinkenya.org
DOWNLOAD FULL PRESS RELEASE: https://staging.creativebox.agency/isla-beta/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/d94662c4-press_release_isla_kelin_dr-tatu-case_vaw_4-december-2019.pdf