Framing and Claiming Reproductive Rights

This research paper focuses on the issue of maternal mortality in Tanzania from a human rights perspective examining the role of civil society actors in framing and claiming rights related to women’s reproductive health. The research process included qualitative interviews with organizations working in Dar es Salaam on issues related to reproductive health, focus group discussions with rural women in Dodoma and a review of secondary data including documents produced at the international level. A key aspect of the research involved examining how reproductive rights are translated into the local context and in turn how they are used by civil society actors. The findings and analysis of this study include a critical examination of the way in which culture and tradition are framed within current safe motherhood discourses with a key example of such being the naming of “traditional” birth attendants. The framing of the issue of maternal mortality by civil society actors was also found to inform the way in which rights claims are made. A delineation was found in the research between those organizations that take what Merry calls a “social-service approach” to rights promotion and those that take a “human rights advocacy approach” (Merry 2006a:138). Although both approaches converge in important ways there are fundamental differences in the way in which their work is carried out. In addition, the study found that while many organizations are involved in mobilization, building a widespread political movement was not a priority for the organizations interviewed. The investigation of “translators” also found more evidence of translations, programs or projects that have been adopted from other contexts. Finally, the relationship between CSO’s and the state on the issue of maternal mortality was found to be influenced by the chosen approach to human rights promotion. The aim of this research is to contribute to the existing knowledge of civil society organizations and donors working in Tanzania, although the dual inquiry approach to exploring how organizations frame and claim rights could be applied to other contexts and issues.