Reeves v. The Queen
Country: AustraliaYear: 2013
Court: High Court
Health Topics: Chronic and noncommunicable diseases, Health care and health services, Informed consent, Medical malpractice, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Right to bodily integrity
Appellant doctor Reeves, a gynecologist, saw CDW, his patient, for treatment of a pre-cancerous lesion on her left labia minora. Reeves performed a “simple vulvectomy” which entailed the removal of CDW’s entire vulva, including her labia and clitoris. CDW filed suit, and provided evidence that she had only agreed to removal of a small flap …Read more
Law and Advocacy for Women in Uganda v. Attorney General
Country: UgandaYear: 2010
Court: Constitutional Court at Kampala
Citation: [2010] UGCC 4; Constitutional Petition No. 8 of 2007
Health Topics: HIV/AIDS, Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to health, Right to life, Right to privacy, Rights to the benefits of culture
Petitioner NGO brought a petition requesting that the Court declare that the act of female genital mutilation (FGM) was in violation of various articles of the Uganda Constitution. The Petitioner argued that FGM was practiced extensively by the certain Ugandan tribes, and that FGM was crudely carried out, involved excruciating pain, could lead to death, …Read more
Omeredo v. Austria
Country: AustriaYear: 2010
Court: The European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 8969/11
Health Topics: Poverty, Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of movement and residence, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health
Ms Omeredo fled Nigeria in May 2003 to escape her village’s custom of female genital mutilation (FGM) and applied for asylum in Austria. The Federal Asylum Office and the Asylum Court rejected her application on the same grounds, namely that the applicant was expected to make use of the state’s protection by fleeing within Nigeria …Read more
Emberá-Chamí Community FGM Case
Country: ColombiaYear: 2008
Court: Juzgado Promiscuo Municipal de Pueblo Rico, Risaralda (Municipal Jurisdiction Court of Pueblo Rico, Risaralda)
Citation: Juzgado Promiscuo Municipal [Municipal Jurisdiction Court], julio 24, 2008, Radicación No. 66572-40-89-001-2008-00005-00 (Colom.).
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Sexual and reproductive health
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of religion, Right to a clean environment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to health, Right to life, Right to privacy
The Emberá-Chamí community, which is located on the Río San Juan Embera-Chamí native reservation, practices female genital mutilation. This consists of cutting and cauterizing the clitorises of newborn girls. The practice is customary for this community and appears to have two rationales: first, to prevent infidelity among adolescent girls and women, and second, to prevent, …Read more
Fornah v. Secretary of State for the Home Department
Country: United KingdomYear: 2006
Court: House of Lords
Citation: [2006] UKHL 46, [2007] 1 AC 412
Health Topics: Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
The House of Lords tried two asylum appeals together in this case: Secretary of State for the Home Department v. K (FC), and Fornah (FC) v. Secretary of State for the Home Department. The second case involved Fornah, a 15-year old girl from Sierra Leone who sought asylum in the United Kingdom on the grounds …Read more