Message from the Executive Director: 16 Days of Activism Against GBV
The Woman’s Newsroom Foundation joins the world in the campaign to end all forms of violence against women-which kicks off today, November 25-The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women-to be followed by observance of 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV), through December 10, the Human Rights Day.
This year’s 16-days campaign marks 30 years since its launch by the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute, hosted by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership at Rutgers University, the US, in 1991.
Under the theme ‘Orange the World: End Violence against Women Now!’ this year’s campaign falls on a critical time when the international community is battling the deadly Covid-19 pandemic, which since striking the world in December 2019 and Kenya in March 2020, has seen a rise in GBV chiefly against women and girls. This violence has been more pronounced during lockdowns imposed by governments and states, in a bid to curtail spread of the deadly pandemic.
‘Two years of pandemic measures such as lockdowns and disruptions to vital support services have further increased women’s exposure to violence,’’ the World Health Organisation (WHO) says.
However, there cannot be reason, justification or excuse by a perpetrator of any form of violence against women, children and even men. During this period-as it should always be-we call upon everyone to report incidences of violence against women, and girls, as well as situations that are likely to breed GBV.
The 2021statistics released in a joint report of the UN Women and WHO on violence against women indicates that 1 in 3 women, across the world, have been subjected to some form of Sexual and Gender Based Violence by an intimate partner and/or other.
In Kenya, the rise in SGBV-targeting women and girls-including femicide-is worrying, given the levels of anti-GBV campaigns and related empowerment by the civil society, especially. This then is a wake-up call to interest groups (stakeholders), on the need to do more, including a relook at our strategies with an eye on either improving or changing them, to succeed in elimination of violence against women and girls (VAWG). In all this, however, we should not give up speaking out against this most detestable violence targeting the female gender. In addition, it is important that this advocacy focuses on the young generation.
As we look back to what has been done and ahead to what has to be done, there is a crying need, for instance, for safe spaces where women and girls-survivors of GBV-can seek shelter. The need for women and girls to not only feel but be safe cannot be gainsaid. In this regard, it is also expedient for the government, partners and other stakeholders to support efforts of those already operating in this space-providing safe accommodation and solace- to survivors of VAWG across the country. The starting point for this should be offering support to the grouping, operating under the Kenya National Shelters Network, who, operate rescue centres in 18 counties across the country.
In Kenya, where SGBV is prevalent, the government has given a commitment to end the vice in five years. In the June 2021 announcement, the administration promised to carry out an anti-GBV through 12-point commitments. We remain hopeful that the same will be implemented and within the stated period.
In its statement to mark the start of the 16-Day campaign, the country’s National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), calls for urgent and adequate measures to protect women and deal with GBV, as the country prepares for the General Election in about 10 months.
“We request political parties to put in place adequate measures and goodwill to protect women and PWD aspirants from suffering any forms of violence,’’ NGEC observed. The media and women’s rights defenders, to document and report incidences of such violence directed at women and girls, “as and when they occur, and demand accountability for actions.
“In Kenya, GBV has been used as a tool to intimidate and prevent women from gainful processes including career progression and political participation…’’ NGEC says.
#OrangeTheWorld: #EndViolenceAgainstWomenNow #EndGBVNow!
