The HIV/Aids Support Organisation (Haso) organised a full-day workshop on bodily autonomy and integrity on Saturday.
Bodily autonomy and integrity (BAI) refers to the ability of all people – regardless of gender or sexual orientation – to make decisions over their bodies without interference or coercion.
The workshop, which took place at the Seychelles Hospital (Blue Roof), gathered 19 Haso volunteers and was presided over by the organisation’s chairperson Justin Freminot.
The participating Haso volunteers learned the importance of BAI which strongly pertains to human rights and when to know that these fundamental human rights are being infringed upon.
The session focused on sexual orientation and gender identity, HIV prevention, access to safe abortion and integration of sexual reproductive health rights into universal health coverage.
According to the UNFPA Asia Pacific regional director, “Bodily autonomy and integrity – the power to make our own choices about our own bodies – are grounded in gender equality and human rights, and are necessary for women’s empowerment and to achieve the sustainable development goals”.
The chairman said this is the start of the campaign for bodily autonomy and integrity as their members, as well as the public, are not familiar with the components of this campaign.
The workshop is to first cadre the members as the objective is to then promote it to the public as a whole.
“Everyone must own their own body as what is currently happening is a lot of laws and policies in place that decide on behalf of the individuals.”
Mr Freminot noted that this is not a new concept but however it is happening more and more often that some people no longer have rights over their own bodies. The biggest example can also be seen in Seychelles when it comes to abortion where many young women find it difficult to abort or terminate their pregnancies and that it has to be first applied for (which nurses are refusing to endorse), then reviewed by a board who then approves or not according to the chairperson.
“This is fundamentally against bodily autonomy and integrity which in turn infringes on a person’s fundamental right to think what is best for themselves and their situation,” Mr Freminot said.
He added that people can contest against what the board says as they have a fundamental right.
The Haso chairperson stated that first and foremost individuals must know their rights to then be able to apply.
Another example is to enter some countries people (women) are required to take certain contraceptives so that when you are in that country you cannot get pregnant.
People more susceptible to have their bodily autonomy infringed upon are the LGBTQ group, drug users, teenage mother, alcoholics that for example contraception are forced upon or decisions are made for them.
Mr Freminot stated that for people to put their foot down they must know what rights are being infringed upon.
Loraine Mondon, a participant, said that through the session they learned more about bodily autonomy and integrity. She added that this will help her in her work as a social worker.
“Certain groups of people have their rights infringed upon and it seems they do not have the same human rights as we do, but they do,” she said. She added that the way an individual is assessing the situation is at risk of being bias through their own experiences, beliefs which in turn oppresses the other person or a group or people.
Fadette Estico, another member of Haso, said that the session concerns everyone as it relates to human rights.
She acknowledged that they are learning various key points that they might have taken too lightly but is in fact taking away their rights.
“We tend to look at what is happening abroad but we must also take in context the situations happening here locally,” she added.
Mr Freminot said they hope that from the workshop they can help in making people understand their responsibilities. Haso will be focusing more on education and awareness when it comes to the subject. The workshop was organised with the support of the Aids and Right Alliance for Southern Africa (Arasa). Haso invites members of the public to join their campaign so as to be in a better position to influence policy change to access services and commodities essential to bodily autonomy and integrity.
Source: Seychelles Nation
