Gender based violence is a shadow pandemic during this Covid-19 pandemic
By: Ngalaa Rehema Chuphi
Violence has become a daily reality for women and girls across Kenya. Reports on cases of violence against women and girls have been on an increasing trend, since the set in of Covid-19 pandemic.
During this crisis brought about by covid 19, gender based violence has become a masked pandemic. The situation has been worsted by the fact that, people are living in unpredictable times full of frustrations.
All the economic frustrations brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic are put on the shoulders of women. Whenever a man cannot bring food on the table, may be due to the tough economic times, he blames it on the woman. This now becomes a channel for the man to relieve his frustrations and now violence begins when the woman fails to admit. Girls are sexually assaulted by their close family members and the cases are not reported to authorities, on a lame excuse on measures put in place to curb Covid-19 including restricted movements. Only few women are getting justice on gender based violence cases.
This is a reality that we cannot run a way from since most people have lost jobs, there is curfew and people in a family have been forced to be together for many hours.
Many cases are not reported to authorities and only few women get justice on this. Public awareness campaigns need to be conducted to address this. There is need to organize forums that will help people speak out their frustrations and receive the needed advice.
The government of Kenya should urgently protect women and girls against violence during this crisis.
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