This archive report was first published on 29 November 2019.
Kenya's Fight Against Gender-Based Violence: A Call to Action ¶
As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism to End Gender-Based Violence, Kenya's government, Finland and Italy embassies, and UN Women have come together to reaffirm their commitment to eradicating this pervasive human rights violation.
According to the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), sexual assault accounted for 25% of all human rights violations during the 2017 electoral violence. This alarming statistic highlights the need for multi-sectoral efforts to prevent violence and conflicts from erupting, and to ensure the safety of women and girls, particularly in hot spot areas.
Women and girls in Kenya often experience alternate but equally damaging forms of sexual and gender-based violence, including child, early, and forced marriage, female genital mutilation, and femicide. In fact, statistics show that one in three women globally are affected by gender-based violence, and in Kenya, 45% of women and girls aged 15-49 are affected.
Despite the government's clear legislation and policies on prevention and responding to gender-based violence, there is still a need to strengthen the corporation and coordination between institutions and remove barriers that exist along a survivor's pathway to justice. Having more women in the police force and adequate training is a crucial first step in ensuring that survivors feel that their complaint is being taken seriously at every stage of the process.
The President of Kenya, H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, has made strong commitments to lead toward the eradication of gender-based violence and harmful practices by 2030, and to eradicate the practice of FGM by 2022. This leadership guides and inspires all actors, including cultural and religious leaders, to increase efforts to prevent these appalling human rights violations.
As we join the international campaign to end gender-based violence, we call on people from all walks of life to learn more and take a stand against the pervasive rape culture that surrounds us. This is an intolerable cost to society, and no further generations must struggle to cope with a legacy of violation.
