PhD Candidate shares his Research on Healthcare and Human Rights

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened interest around the globe in issues relating to healthcare and human rights. For one PhD candidate, this led to an opportunity to share his work on a national stage.

Doctoral Fellow at UKZN’s School of Law Mr Bonginkosi Shozi, whose research is supported by the University’s African Health Research Flagship, recently published an article in The Conversation on his PhD research entitled New Technologies mean States must Reconsider what “Reproductive Rights” Are. The article discussed the history of reproductive rights in international human rights law, and South African law that is relevant to how novel techniques for assisted human reproduction should be regulated.

Shortly after the article’s publication, he was invited to appear as a guest on national radio station SA FM, on the Late Conversations show with Patricia Ntuli. The interview, which aired live on 22 June, discussed the controversial topic of Technology and Health.

Shozi described the interview as ‘A thrilling experience. Helping people become informed about human rights law and how it affects healthcare in various sectors, including reproductive healthcare, is something I am passionate about. The interview was an opportunity to do this on a national stage, and it was both fun and educational. I was able to assist ordinary South Africans to better understand complex technologies like in-vitro fertilisation, embryo transfer and gene editing. Through my conversations with people who called in, I was able to engage listeners on some of the legal and ethical issues surrounding them. This is very important as law and science affect our everyday lives and we should all be part of the debates surrounding if, when and how groundbreaking technology is regulated. However, few people are well informed enough to have their voices heard. Communicating about these issues in a way that is accessible to ordinary people is something that matters to me.’

Shozi is a part of the School of Law’s Health Law and Ethics research group. He added that the interview shone a light on the topical and relevant nature of the group’s current work.

A recording of the interview is available at: https://iono.fm/e/896516, and the article in The Conversation can be accessed at: https://theconversation.com/new-technologies-mean-states-must-reconsider-what-reproductive-rights-are-139314. Bonginkosi Shozi can be contacted at 081 389 2104 or 071 342 2682.BY: