Civil Society Organizations in Seme and Kisumu West Sub-County commemorated the 16 Days of Activism on 8th December 2023 at Kombewa in Seme Sub-County, Kisumu.
Under the Kisumu Gender Sector Working Group led by the County Government gender department civil societies in Seme and Kisumu West sub county celebrated 16 Days of Activism at Kombewa Market. The celebration which kicked off with a campaign caravan that traversed across Seme villages disseminating information that calls on male Champions to Unite and Invest: to prevent Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) against girls and women, as well as enlightening the community on land management and succession issues.
According to the report released by Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre (GBVRC) in 2022, they received over 3,762 cases of Gender-Based Violence. Out of those cases, 2,985 cases of GBV were by women while 777 cases were by men. In Kisumu County GBVRC recorded 657 sexually related cases with a monthly average of 109 while the physical related ones added up to 804 cases with a monthly average of 134 cases.
The highest form of GBV has been denial of resources including financial resources at 68.3 per cent, followed by defilement at 7.9 per cent, emotional abuse at 6.7 per cent, rape at 5.7 per cent and physical assault at 4.5 per cent.”
While speaking to the audience the Kisumu High Court judge, Hon. Lady Justice Shariff Mwanaisha stated that both boys and girls faces Sexual and Gender Based Violence-violation of human rights. She also urged the parents to take full responsibility over their children.
“Let’s be close to our children so that they can easily share information and prevent SGBV cases amongst children”, said Ms Shariff Mwanaisha.
The Deputy County Commissioner-Seme Sub-County, Ms Elizabeth Owendi appreciated the efforts of different organisations in pulling resources together to ensure that community is sensitized on SGBV and land succession issues, adding that SGBV is a global threat to women and girls hence Seme was not exceptional.
“SGBV manifest differently, it has no specific age and it effects uniquely. There is need to address it to eradicate or reduce the vice”, said Ms Owendi, adding that some GBV cases occurs due to land management and succession issues.
The National Government Administration Officer (NGAO) are on the front line in ensuring that any person within the community is not defrauded off their property.
She further explained that: “through the National Government Administration Officer structures like Chiefs, Assistant Chiefs who knows the people living in the community, they can determine the rightful owners of certain properties-land.”
NGAO has taken steps to ensure that even women and children who may not be able to defend themselves against the rest of the community are included within the letters of land administration so that they can rightfully acquire that which is left for them.
The forum also brought services such as free treatment of common ailments, free eye check-ups, eye glasses, cancer screening, family planning, HTS and legal aid. And a colourful mute Court to demonstrate to the community on legal procedure in tackling SGBV cases to accelerate the reporting and successful completion of SGBV cases.
Medical doctor from CHEB, Ms Roseline Sijenje said that through their services especially counselling they reached out to individuals who have experienced SGBV or not, thus passing the message on Uniting and investing to prevent violence against women and girls.
“SGBV issue does not only affect an individual but the whole of society because when one person is affected so many people are attached to it.”
Kenya Female Advisory Organization Programme officer Ms Jacky Milanya further urged government to accelerate the generation equality commitment through implementing the values signed during ICPD plus 25, adding that it will help in addressing SGBV cases.
“The civil societies should continuously collaborate with the government to have a goal that will envision what young people from today will see in the future,” she said.
Ms Otieno Nancy, a youth champion from Central Seme, also appreciated the conveners of the event for organising the forum to sensitize the community on critical matters affecting girls and women.
“Through 16 Days of Activism, we now have access to information on how to prevent and tackle rape or defilement cases in our society. We are requesting for a continuous sensitization on SGBV and land issues.”
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that kicks off on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day.
The campaign was started by activists at the inauguration of the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.
In support of this civil society initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.
Every year, the UNITE Campaign focuses on a specific theme and this year’s is “UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls”. The campaign calls on citizens to show how much they care about ending violence against women and girls by sharing the actions they are taking to create a world free from violence towards women. This year's campaign also calls on governments worldwide to share how they are investing in gender-based violence prevention.
