Film Screening - International Women's Day 2012

In commemoration of the International Women’s Day, the Legal Resources Centre, a human rights organisation, is screening a short film about forced sterilisation in Namibia titled: ‘They Took My Choice Away’.

This short film features Hilma Nendongo, a mother of two who was sterilised without her consent in a state hospital. The doctor sterilised Hilma because she is HIV positive, despite the fact that she is on anti-retroviral treatment and her sons do not have the virus. Hilma’s story on sterilisation is echoed by many women living with HIV in Namibia.

Forced and coerced sterilisation  are a grave violation of human rights and medical ethics and can be described as acts of torture and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

The film is an initiative of the Open Society Foundation and was produced as part of the Campaign to Stop Torture in Health Care, which works worldwide to hold governments accountable for human rights violations and abuse in health care settings.

Time: 17h30 – 18h00.

Enquiries: Khumbulani Mpofu, Tel: 011 838 6601, E-mail: Khumbulani [at] lrc [dot] org [dot] za.

For more about the Legal Resources Centre, refer to www.lrc.org.za.