Sexual and Reproductive Rights Lawfare in Latin America

Across Latin America we see an increasing judicialisation of sexual and reproductive rights (SRR), domestically and at the international level. Polarization is particularly pronounced with regard to abortion rights and rights of sexual minorities (LGBTI - lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex -persons), but it also concerns issues such as the regulation of contraception, sterilization, divorce, sexual education and stem cell research. In many countries, and at the international level rights hav e been key political tools and courts central arenas of these moral-legal battles, and have been used by all sides to further their aims. We use the concept of lawfare to denotes the diverse strategies in which rights and legal institutions figure promine ntly, are adopted intentionally and used strategically with the aim of changing societies - in this case regarding sexual and reproductive rights (hereinafter SRR lawfare). The main objective of this project is to organize a workshop in Bergen in August 2 013 to bring together a group of scholars from Norway and Latin-America to present their preliminary analysis regarding the use and effects of legal campaigns on SRR in Latin America (through cases from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru and the Inter-America n Court), and discuss approaches to explore these further in a joint research project. . This includes understanding how the various effects are linked to the nature and causes of the lawfare process, the political dynamics, and the institutional, social and cultural context. As part of the workshop, there will a public seminar will be held at the Bergen Resource Centre for International Development. The infrastructure and experience of the Resource Centre in organization such events, is a major asset, securing visibility and reach vis-à-vis relevant milieus. Reflections from the workshop will made available to a broader audience as a CMI brief.