Ratify ILO C 190 standards, to strengthen the war against SGBV

The Mount Kenya Times

News
16 April 2022

The Mount Kenya Times

By: Dennis Wendo

Worth Noting:

There is a need for a holistic and inclusive approach towards addressing GBV. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, National Police Service, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Court Users Committee, local administration, media, Inter-faith based and relevant civil society organizations should be in the forefront in championing for evidence-based policy drafting, programming, as well as activism for improved and measurable impact, geared towards increasing the chances for detectable change and multi- sectoral action.
Media organizations and professionals should persistently lend their expertise across all areas of communication, to not only synthesize the massive amounts of information available on GBV, but to also utilize media as a tool to reduce gender-based violence and make progress towards gender equality through clear strategic communication approaches by creating and sharing information on these vital issues.

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is an omnipresent human rights violation and continues to be interminable and injurious to many people in Kenya and across the world. It remains one of the most persistent barriers to gender equality and sustainable development.

SGBV is largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame encompassing the evil. A few of the highlighted cases on a daily basis either on print, electronic or social media platforms are traumatic and reflect the growing moral decadence in the society.

SGBV is violence directed at an individual based on his or her sex or gender identity. It includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, threats, coercion, and denial of economic or educational rights, whether occurring in public or private life. It remains a weighty human rights and public health issue and it is salient to identify the factors that lead to gender inequality, unequal power relations, gender discrimination and cultural norms which are the main contributors of SGBV.

Various reports and findings provide evidence from the grassroots on the link between gender-based violence (GBV), teenage pregnancies and the high HIV prevalence among adolescents and young women aged 15-24 years in the country, with situations having been at the pinnacle during the outbreak of Covid 19 pandemic.

According to MoH at least 98 girls aged between 10-19years are infected with HIV everyday; between January and February 2022 Kenya recorded 45,724 cases of teen pregnancies. This situation is startling; it is cardinal for key stakeholders in the fight against GBV to review their policy application, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting mechanisms, to ensure the protection of rights, well being and access to justice for all GBV survivors.

Currently, GBV is regulated by several national and international laws, policies, guidelines and treaties but is minimally discussed with ease at country, county levels or among communities. The government, national institutions, academia, private sector, civil society, media, and the general public, should stretch their efforts in the warfare against GBV; this includes policy solutions, promoting and improving research and statistical data, investing in medium and long-term prevention efforts to reduce and end violence against women and girls, supporting women’s rights and civil society groups, strengthening international norms and standards, national legislative and policy frameworks, and expanding coordinated, quality multi-sectoral services.

ILO Convention No. 190 is the first international treaty to recognize the right of everyone to a world of work; free from violence and harassment, including gender-based violence and harassment. The Convention was adopted in June 2019, by the International Labour Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO), and came into force on 25 June 2021. ILO C190 seeks to have in place new global standards aimed at ending violence and harassment in the world of work. “Governments that ratify C190 will be required to put in place the necessary laws and policy measures to prevent and address violence and harassment in the world of work”

Kenya needs to ratify ILO C190 and rally for its implementation by the national government and legislative county assemblies.

There is a need for a holistic and inclusive approach towards addressing GBV. The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, National Police Service, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Court Users Committee, local administration, media, Inter-faith based and relevant civil society organizations should be in the forefront in championing for evidence-based policy drafting, programming, as well as activism for improved and measurable impact, geared towards increasing the chances for detectable change and multi- sectoral action.

Media organizations and professionals should persistently lend their expertise across all areas of communication, to not only synthesize the massive amounts of information available on GBV, but to also utilize media as a tool to reduce gender-based violence and make progress towards gender equality through clear strategic communication approaches by creating and sharing information on these vital issues.

“An increase in conversation and communication will demonstrate – albeit not without its setbacks – the crucial importance of communicating easily digestible, accurate information as a means of tackling harmful and pressing issues as gender inequality and GBV, and ultimately help achieve gender equality in all corners of the country”

As a nation we should buttress the campaign against GBV as we head towards the August general election polls for a just and equitable society for the safety of all irrespective of gender, age, race, color, ethnicity nor religion.

Dennis Wendo

Founder- Integrated Development Network

Email: dambehi@gmail.com