Time to scale up the fight against gender violence and abuse

As we begin an international campaign to galvanise action to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) around the world, it is important to review our performance as a nation.

The 16-day campaign observed annually, culminates in the celebration of the Human Rights Day on December 10. The period is also packed with other observations: International Day of Persons with Disabilities, International Volunteer Day, Anti-Corruption Day and International Human Rights Day.

Locally, 12 month statistics indicate violence against girls stood at 10.7 per cent and 4.2 per cent against boys. The children experienced an episode of sexual violence in the preceding 12 months. According to statistics by the Government and UNICEF, at least half of males aged 13 -17 accepted use of violence against a wife by her husband in one or more circumstances. Similarly, five out of every ten females aged 18-24 regardless of whether they experienced childhood violence prior to age 18, believe it is acceptable for a husband to beat his wife under one or more circumstances.

Other statistics by the Kenya Demographic and Household Survey (KDHS) indicate that gender violence occurs in all parts of the country, indicating that 47 per cent of women and 40 per cent of men aged between 15 and 49 reported that they have experienced either physical or sexual violence while 45 per cent and 44 per cent of men aged between 14 and 49 have experienced physical violence.

At the same time, 14 per cent of women and six per cent of men aged between 15-49 reports having experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. At least 39 per cent of ever-married women and 9 per cent of men aged 15-49 report have experienced spousal physical or sexual violence while national prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation is 21 per cent.

That explains reasons behind the 56th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) identification of GBV as a serious issue in Kenyan schools contributing to high school dropout rate especially for girls.

It is in this regard that Kenya has domesticated the international theme to ‘From Peace in the Home to Peace in the Country: Make Education Safe for All.’ Education is a human right. Learning environments must therefore be safe for all to learn, free from gender discrimination and violence. The drivers of GBV are several and multi-dimensional. However, gender discrimination and unequal gender balance of power are the key causes. These are sustained further by a culture of silence and condemnation of the survivors.

The GBV has been exacerbated by absence of strong prevention interventions, weak protection mechanisms for survivors; slow or failure of prosecution of cases; insufficient coverage of services for survivors; weak programming and partnerships so as to afford the survivors prompt, and effective services, as well just and adequate remedies. Women and men and children who are subjected GBV suffer physically, mentally, spiritually, morally, socially and their survival is at risk. In addition to the costs it exacts on the survivors, GBV outcomes exact a cost on affected families and the society at large. The costs of accessing justice are both direct and indirect. Children are at risk of dropping out of school, getting pregnant, becoming child brides or acquiring HIV and Aids. Worse still, children exposed to violence are socialised to accept violence as part of life and thus may become violent themselves thus sustaining the cycle of violence in society.

Guided by this reality, the government will tomorrow launch the 16-Days of Activism against GBV at Ndumberi Stadium, Kiambu County to create awareness on the national strategy on prevention and response to GBV.

The strategy focuses on five pillars of Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Programming and Partnerships all of which are interlinked and underpinned by strong coordination, communication, advocacy, innovation, leveraging on ICT and policy dialogue at national and county levels. We shall also create awareness on the GBV 1195 free helpline number, call on men and boys to join the HeForShe campaign in support of gender equality and women’s empowerment and feature the voices of survivors of GBV.

We must say no to violence in close relationships, to sexual violence, trafficking in human beings, slavery, and sexual exploitation; to harmful practices such as child and forced marriages, female genital mutilation, and crimes committed in the name of so-called ‘honour’; and no to emerging forms of violations, such as online harassment, various forms of sexual abuse instigated or facilitated through the use of ICT, stalking, and bullying.

- The writer is CS of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs