A civil Society Organization Formulates a Policy to Fight GBV as public Urged to Report Any Form of Violence

By Elizabeth Angira

Worth Noting:

• Kisii county Health Executive Committee Member (CECM), Leah Bwari Ogega has urged Members of the public to volunteer evidence on victims of Gender Based Violence for perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted for the victims to get justice in court.
• According to data from Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centers, one in three Kenyan females has experienced an episode of sexual violence before attaining the age of 18 while between 39% and 47% of Kenyan women experience GBV in their lifetime.
• The common types of reported cases of GBV include defilement, rape, sexual assault, physical violence, and trafficking of women and girls. Kenya has also witnessed increased reporting of cases of violence directed at women domestic workers, particularly those working in the Middle East.

As the world marks sixteen days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV), A civil society Organization (CSO- Kisii Endelevu Trust Initiative (KETI) in Kisii county has formulated a policy to fight the vice.

The Initiative’s Board of Trustees Board chairman, Dr John Nyambega said the Organization has allocated funds for chiefs and experts to train community members shun the violence, uphold and respect human rights.

“We conducted research in the Wards and found shocking and shameful findings. That is why we developed the policy” Nyambega said.

According to United Nations( UN) Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today remains largely unreported due to the impunity, silence, stigma and shame surrounding it.

He said female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and domestic violence were rampant in the area, stressing KETI and other Community Based Organizations (CBOs) have concerted effort the retrogressive practices in the Gusii community.

“Women and the girl-child are most affected by retrogressive cultures.  I urge clan elders and chiefs to arrest perpetrators to face the law to deter others” Nyambega said, stressing rape, defilement, FGM violated the rights of women and the girl-child.

The rights of men and the boy-child, noted the official, were also being violated through the violence and challenged them to report perpetrators of violence against them to be arrested to face the law for them to get justice.

Kisii county Health Executive Committee Member (CECM), Leah Bwari Ogega   has urged Members of the public to volunteer evidence on victims of Gender Based Violence for perpetrators to be arrested and prosecuted for the victims to get justice in court.

According to data from Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centers, one in three Kenyan females has experienced an episode of sexual violence before attaining the age of 18 while between 39% and 47% of Kenyan women experience GBV in their lifetime. The common types of reported cases of GBV include defilement, rape, sexual assault, physical violence, and trafficking of women and girls. Kenya has also witnessed increased reporting of cases of violence directed at women domestic workers, particularly those working in the Middle East.

The cultural norms, societal practices, traditions, patriarchal attitudes and deep-rooted stereotypes regarding the roles, responsibilities, and identities are major contributors to violence against women and girls.

She asked implored health workers at health Facilities to assess the victims of violence properly and write reports to strengthen the case.

The CEC said it was wrong for GBV cases to be thrown out from courts due to lack of enough evidence to try and convict the perpetrators, stressing it negated the fight against the vices.

According to Bwari most GBV cases involve people who are well known to the victims, and who interfere with evidence that could secure convictions.

She asked members of the public to report government officers who are bribed by perpetrators to write bad reports to weaken cases of Gender Based violence for selfish interest.

“We have officers at our health Facilities who assess the victims and write accurate reports. However, some can be influenced by the perpetrators to write reports to weaken evidence” Bwari said.

She said victims of violence are assessed, treated promptly, guided and counseled to get settled,

She said health workers and chiefs are sensitizing members of the public to shun GBV, which, she noted, was rampant at the grassroots.

“We have cases of sexual and physical harassment at homes, work places and urge the victims to report to end the vices” Bwari explained.

Men and the boy-child noted the Bwari are also victims of GBV and challenged them to shun fear and instead report the violence to relevant authorities for their tormentors to be nabbed and prosecuted.

She asked victims of rape and defilement go to health Facilities for treatment immediately, report at the nearest police station and preserve their clothes to enhance the probe

The theme of this years’ campaign UNITE! Activism to End Violence against Women & Girls will aim to mobilize all society to become activists for the prevention of violence against women, to stand in solidarity with women’s rights activists and to support feminist movements around the world to resist the rollback on women’s rights and calling for a world free from VAWG.