Gender based violence (GBV) against women and girls continues to be one of the most pervasive human rights violations in the world, the United Nations (UN) Women Deputy Country Director Dan Bazira has said.
Bazira said that in Kenya statistics paint a grim picture where 16 percent of women and 10 percent of men have experienced physical violence in the last 12 months while adding that 34 percent of women and 27 percent of men have experienced physical violence since they were the age of 15.
Consequently, he called upon all stakeholders to mount campaigns aligned to Kenya’s commitment to eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls as outlined in the Beijing Framework geared towards averting disruptions of lives and communities from being weakened.
“As we gather here, we must confront the harsh reality of violence against women and girls that is one of the worst human rights violations in the world. According to statistics from the Kenya Demographic Household Survey (KDHS) of 2022, 16 percent of women and 10 percent of men have experienced physical violence in the last 12 months,” said Bazira at Unoa Sports Ground in Wote town on Monday.
He said this during the launch of 16 days of activism against GBV where he emphasized the need for all duty bearers, especially states and private sector companies to take action to End Violence Against Women (EVAW).
The UN Deputy Country Director said there was also a need to take action and review the priorities of EVAW that have been implemented as per the Beijing Declaration of 30 years ago.
“Beijing platform for Action and Political Declaration, recommits, accountability and resourcing. This includes implementing comprehensive strategies in partnership with women rights organizations and allocating necessary budgets,” he observed.
“Also actively reporting on the progress to end impunity and prevent violence against women and girls with particular urgency regarding its most extreme manifestation of femicide,” Bazira said.
The Director noted that the 16 days of activism are critical in reminding of our responsibility to break the silence, challenge harmful norms and invest in transformative change.
He further said that ending GBV is not a responsibility of one sector, individual or organization but requires the whole of society in order to commit to gender equality and address GBV vice in the country.
While saying the government has enacted legal frameworks like Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Offences Act and Policies Supporting Survivors, the survey indicates that women and girls still experience physical and sexual violence.
“This calls for renewed advocacy through the Beijing + 30 lens. The 30th anniversary provides a pivotal moment to reflect on violence against women and girls, equality through justice and protection leaving No One Behind,” he added.
UN Women with partners and government of Kenya, civil society organizations and other development partners continues to prioritize actions to prevent and respond to GBV and femicide.
They are committed in policy and legal frameworks that support reforms, implementation of laws and policies that protect women and girls, community engagement where they mobilize communities to challenge harmful norms and behaviours.
Through service delivery they strengthen survivor-centered services including health care, psychosocial support, legal aid and shelter services, to ensure survivors recover.
Speaking at the same event, Makueni Woman Representative Rose Museo, blamed consumption of alcohol and use of drugs as the main cause of Gender Based Violence in the county.
Museo called upon the government through the law enforcement agencies to fight the vice to ensure the elimination of the drug and substance abuse in an effort to end GBV.
Further, she urged women in marriage to avoid causing controversy in their families in order to avert GBV that is prevalent in the area.
“I urge the national government to ensure the consumption and use of alcohol and use of drugs and substance abuse is eliminated so that we avert conflict in families.
Makueni County Commissioner Duncan Darusi warned chiefs and their assistants to avoid subverting justice by using kangaroo courts them in solving GBV cases saying this was not the way the government expects them to execute their duties.
While warning them against taking advantage of the vulnerable in the community, Darusi reminded them that Kangaroo courts are not the policy of the government hence the need to stop the habit forthwith.
“The bad habits of kangaroo courts must stop; this is not the policy of the government. You must protect the vulnerable in the community and never take advantage of them,” warned Darusi.
By Patrick Nyakundi