You have full access to this open access chapter. The enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights remains a daily struggle for many sex workers. The reality of laws and policies in different countries in the global north and global south and their impact on sex workers is indisputable even where they have ratified and domesticated international human rights treaties. This chapter explores the barriers in the face of state accountability that hinder the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights and exacerbates inequalities and discriminatory practices in Kenya.
Information was collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussion and analysis of legal and policy documents. You have full access to this open access chapter, Download chapter PDF. Hamm , p. ICPD , para 7. Violating the right to sexual and reproductive health may impair the enjoyment of other human rights and vice versa Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and World Health Organisation, At the domestic level, these rights are embodied in the Constitution of Kenya and in the Health Act of to ensure rights-based approach to sexual and reproductive health.
In this chapter, I explore four barriers that hinder the enjoyment of sexual and reproductive health and rights. I argue that for women in sex work to enjoy sexual and reproductive health and rights in the country, barriers must be dismantled and the state held accountable Stefiszyn, to promote equality and non-discriminatory practices.
The chapter is based on a qualitative study conducted in to interrogate whether a human rights-based approach HRBA could guarantee sexual and reproductive health of sex workers.
It focused on the potential of HRBA laws and policies to improve the right to health leading to greater empowerment of sex workers Hunt et al. The research was subject to ethical review process and approved by ethics committee at the University of Sussex. The ethical considerations were subject to the Data Protection Act It was important that all the participants in the in-depth interviews and focus group discussion FGD give their informed consent.
