Violence Against Women
Kenya has developed programs for prevention and response towards eradicating gender-based violence (GBV).
Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Anne Waiguru told the national GBV summit in Nairobi on Thursday that the interventions include telephone help lines, shelters and rescue homes, formation of GBV recovery centers, legal aid clinics, psychosocial support services and rehabilitation services.
“We have also formed male groups to champion the rights of women by using fathers, brothers, husbands to serves as advocates to end GBV within their communities and society as a whole,” Waiguru said.
She noted that the interventions have provided a solid basis for shifting social norms that have perpetuated violence against women hence demonstrating potential for lasting social change.
She said that following the ratification of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, Kenya has developed an action plan that incorporates a human centered security approach that focuses on the protection of individuals rather than on defending the physical and political integrity of state.
“The policy also insists that the inclusion of women in peace committees at County levels comprise not less than a third of the committees,” she added.
Waiguru observed that in spite of having policies and frameworks in place, ending of violence require change of mindsets at family and community levels to ensure preventing GBV becomes everyone’s responsibility.
She called for support towards coming up with initiatives such as giving credit to women as a means of empowering them economically as a way of eradicating GBV.
“GBV is an obstacle to development as it robs mothers and daughters an opportunity, undermines their dignity, safety and human rights,” USAID Kenya Mission Director Karen Freeman said.
She said that USAID in partnership with the ministry of Health has established five GBV recovery centers in the country.
“These model centers provide comprehensive post rape services such as legal, psychological and mental support,” she added.
Evidence demonstrates that women empowerment is critical to building stable democratic societies hence the need to support open and accountable governance that allows women to exercise their rights.
According to Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) chief Jebiwot Sumbeiywo, peace committees, paralegals and loaning schemes have been started in 18 Counties in the country with the aim of empowering victims of GBV.
“We have so far given out 5,000 U.S. dollars to women groups towards the management of GBV issues,” she noted.
GBV, especially violence against women is considered as one of the most pervasive and tolerated form of human rights violation in the world.
It has devastating effects on individual’s communities as it often results to physical, mental and health problems.
Recent studies indicate that GBV is prevalent in most parts of Kenya with police doing very little to help the victims.
The data shows that a quarter of girls aged 12-24 have lost their virginity through different forms of forced intercourse.
Latest reports indicate that the reported rape cases increased from 332 in 2012 and 297 in 2011 to 383 in may 2013.