Collaboration with the International Women’s Human Rights Clinic (2011-2012)

The Issue in Brief

The O’Neill Institute and Georgetown Law’s International Women’s Human Rights Clinic (IWHRC) have an ongoing collaboration to advance the health of marginalized women through a human rights-based approach. This collaboration brings together the O’Neill Institute with partners inside, and external to, Georgetown Law.

In Spring 2012, the IWHRC commenced drafting a human rights report and proposed model legislation to improve fulfillment of women’s reproductive rights in Uganda, particularly on issues of access to contraception and safe termination of pregnancy. O’Neill personnel advised and work with clinical students on international human rights law as it pertains to these issues, particularly from a right to health approach.

Additionally, O’Neill Institute law fellow Alexandra Jones traveled with clinical staff and students in March 2012 to conduct human rights fact finding in Kampala and rural Uganda to inform the report. Interviews were conducted to gain a better understanding of women’s experiences in a country with one of the world’s highest fertility rates, and also greatest unmet need for contraception. The O’Neill fellow collaborated with members of local partner, Law-Uganda, and international NGO partner, The Center for Reproductive Rights, to conduct interviews with local, state, and national government officials, judges, health practitioners, men and women in a variety of types of marriage, traditional authorities, and care providers, among others. Since returning from the fact-finding mission, Ms. Jones has worked with clinical students to finalize their human rights reports.