This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
Published on June 18, 2020, a report highlighted the gains made in ending child marriage and enabling second chance education for girls in Kenya. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has put these gains at risk.
Before the pandemic, cases brought to court led to the annulment of child marriages, allowing girls to return to school. Additionally, fewer adolescents experienced female genital mutilation (FGM) compared to older generations.
However, the health crisis has undermined strategies to end sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) and other harmful practices. The pandemic has resulted in lost livelihoods, disrupted social support networks, and reduced access to reproductive health information and services.
As a result, there are reports of increases in incidents of sexual and gender-based violence, including child marriage and FGM. Many regions are already grappling with the effects of the pandemic, with communities sinking further into poverty.
Women and girls trapped in their homes with their abusers are isolated from services and resources. Projections estimate that 31 million additional cases of gender-based violence will occur globally if the lockdown continues for at least six months.
Adolescent girls, aged 10 to 19 years, are particularly vulnerable due to their limited negotiation skills within the family. Many are likely to fall victim to child marriage, a practice to reduce the family's economic burden and increase income through dowry and bride price.
The lockdowns have temporarily shut down schools and other safe spaces for girls, blocking access to mentorship programmes. Widespread closure of schools has interrupted the education of over 1 billion children globally, exposing girls to a greater risk of GBV, child marriage, FGM, unintended pregnancies, and HIV infection.
Even prior to the pandemic, adolescent girls were already left behind. With today's crisis, pre-existing gender inequalities have exacerbated their vulnerability. Girls need to return to school to complete their education and create an empowered future.
Post-COVID-19, families may need a financial push. The education of girls, second chance education for survivors of GBV, child marriage, and the demographic dividend should be the priority of governments in rebuilding efforts.
It is imperative that public policy efforts and programmes for the elimination of child marriage and FGM are implemented during the pandemic and beyond. Kenya remains strongly committed to working with all stakeholders to build societies where women and girls are free from violence and all forms of discrimination.
