Reprieve for the gender based victims as gender recovery center opened
Ida Odinga, Azimio Deputy President Designate Martha Karua , Kisii County governor James Ongwae, Kisii Woman rep Janet Ong'era during the opening Gender based violence rescue centre photo /Elizabeth Angira
By Elizabeth Angira
Worth Noting:
• According to Ong’era Covid-9 served to increase GBV- related risks and violence against women and girls, but also limited survivors’ ability to distance themselves from their abusers as well as reducing their ability to access external support
• She said they were partnering with non-governmental organizations to not only rescue but also offer key training to the victims to empower them to make it in life.
• “Cases of violence against women are worrying. Other than the rescue centre, we will be working with the private sector organizations that help victims of such abuses to help them get to their feet,”she said.
• “We can only follow up and seek justice for reported GBV cases. Most cases here in Kisii county go unreported. This is a major challenge because we believe that every GBV victim deserves justice,” said Ong’era.
Due to surge cases of gender based violence and sexual harassment in Kisii County, the county has opened GBV centre.
According to the Kenya Demographic and Household Survey report 2014 (KDHS), 45 percent of women aged between 15-49 years have experienced physical violence, while 39 percent of married women have experienced physical or sexual violence compared to 44 percent and nine percent of men respectively.
Speaking during the opening of the rescue centre, Ida Odinga said that it will help in rescue efforts of such victims .
Ms Odinga said that molesting of women and girls are high and are result alcohol and drug substances.
“Women rights are human rights, do not take the women rights as second class human beings,” she said.
Ms Odinga said that it is high time public should respect one another.
She cited that it is criminal offence to molest one another regardless of sex, age .
Ms Ida challenged the security officers not to relent on anyone found committing the crime, it is high time people should respect one another without intimidating others.
She urged public to be vigilant and report such cases and warned those who will be found culpable will charged in court and face the law.
Azimio Deputy President Designate Martha Karua said that the centre will relieve those who have been suffering silently.
Ms Karua said that the centre will offer psycho-social support to survivors .
“Gender-based violence (GBV) cases affecting men, women and children, have increasingly been reported in Counties,”she said.
She cited that the centre has rooms here that will effectively accommodate the GBV victims that need relocation from home.
She said that such cases are result of disrespect and urged the public to respect one another.
Men are encouraged to seek GBV support and not to shy away. GBV breaks men, women and children.
Kisii County woman rep Janet Ong’era blamed rising cases to uptake of illicit brews and the effects of Covid-19 that has made many jobless and unable to provide for their families.
According to Ong’era Covid-9 served to increase GBV- related risks and violence against women and girls, but also limited survivors’ ability to distance themselves from their abusers as well as reducing their ability to access external support
She said they were partnering with non-governmental organizations to not only rescue but also offer key training to the victims to empower them to make it in life.
“Cases of violence against women are worrying. Other than the rescue centre, we will be working with the private sector organizations that help victims of such abuses to help them get to their feet,”she said.
“We can only follow up and seek justice for reported GBV cases. Most cases here in Kisii county go unreported. This is a major challenge because we believe that every GBV victim deserves justice,” said Ong’era.
The Centre will offer, among other services, remote psychological first aid to GBV survivors, including male survivors whose GBV cases often go unreported due to cultural and social fa
According to the UN’s sexual and reproductive health agency, GBV includes acts that inflict physical, sexual or mental harm and other forms of suffering, coercion and limits on personal freedoms. It has long-term consequences on the sexual, physical and psychological health of survivors.
GBV is being majorly driven by conflict, climate change, famine and insecurity which heightens vulnerability for girls and women.
Violence against women and girls according to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries. Worldwide, an estimated one in three women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.
“GBV victims can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and even death,” .
A report released by the Human Rights Watch on 21st September 2021 showed that the Kenyan government’s response to gender-based violence during the Covid-19 pandemic has been too little .
The equipping of this centre with more personel will help the gbv victims to get full support here in terms of treatment, counseling and security.
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