Kenya

I recently returned from Kenya, where Somali women and families are seeking refuge by the thousands. I met with Hubbie Hussein Al-Haji of MADRE’s sister organization, Womankind Kenya, a grassroots women’s organization of Somali pastoralists. Here is what I learned.

Years of misguided U.S. policy such as the Global Gag Rule have contributed to today's crisis in Kenya.

Follow Jodi Jacobson on Twitter, @jljacobson

Kenya could get condom manufacturing plant, Santorum announces exploratory committee, Indiana won't require women to hear breast cancer lies before an abortion, and Philadelphia's teen condom campaign causes controversy.

Reusing condoms due to lack of availability in Kenya, Governor McDonnell signs TRAP law in Virginia, North Dakota pushes abstinence-until-marriage, and looking at discrimination of transgendered persons.

House Judiciary Committee moves H.R. 3 to the full House, three abortion bills survive Iowa's bill funnel, the governor of South Dakota says he's likely to sign bill requiring CPC counseling, an elected official is surprised at the reaction when he says women belong at home raisin' babies, and a Kenyan official suggests banishment for those with HIV.

With millions of Americans out of work, House Republicans are focusing in on real priorities: decimating private abortion coverage and crippling public funding for abortion.

In Kenya, as in many other countries, the health care system lacks the resources to provide care to those who need it, and patients also have few means for exercising their rights.

The Kenyan state denies fistula sufferers their rights to the highest attainable standard of health and to a remedy for the injustices and denial of service that they face.

My name is Sarah Omega and I am a fistula survivor from Kenya. After my parents died, I was raped by a religious leader and became pregnant at age 19. A wrenching labor left me with fistula.

Kenya is poised to revise its constitution with a ban on abortion and language redefining life beginning at conception. Only three other countries have such constitutional prohibitions.