Turning the tide: The fight to reclaim gains and accelerate progress in the fight Against Gender-based Violence

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) refers to any form of violence/act that occasions physical, sexual, or psychological harm to both women & men. Sexual and gender-based violence is prevalent in our society both actively and passively. Its effects range from personal, cultural, economic, social, and political. This occasioned untold suffering for both women and men. Global statistics indicate the majority of survivors are mainly women & children.

FIDA-Kenya and Womankind worldwide hosted Women’s Rights Organizations in May 2022 from Eastern regions in a networking forum intending to empower the WROS on gender equality and enhance women’s political participation. The forum was also aimed at the prevention and elimination of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and girls and strengthening women’s leadership and women’s participation in decision-making.

During the forum in Embu, discussions focused on the achievements made by the WROs which included; the establishment of learning tools on SGBV including capacity building for teen mums, advocating for alternative rites of passage, advancing programs on economic empowerment for women and

PWDs-which led to a reduction in GBV and improved health, increased partnership with counties, and SGBV movement formation in Makueni County among others.

Despite the achievements made, there were also challenges faced by WROs which included; political disagreements which have slowed the movement programs-challenge on continuity, existing women leaders perpetuating nepotism leading to re-election challenges, political parties using consensus ideology leaving women out, counties not receptive to governance due to the political season, shelters remain unavailable in Kitui and Tharaka Nithi among others.

The facilitator also noted that the laws in Kenya have provided how Sexual & Gender-based violence should be handled under; (a)Constitution of Kenya: Article 2 (4) which provides that any law, including customary law, that is inconsistent with the Constitution is void to the extent of the inconsistency, and the fact that any act or omission in contravention of the Constitution is invalid