Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has rolled out 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the coastal county.
Governor Achani says the devolved government has kicked off activities that seek to raise awareness about the pervasive issues of GBV which affects women and girls.
The coastal county boss termed GBV as a hydra-headed monster that continues to confront women, girls and children especially in the rural areas.
She decried the rising cases of GBV in the region ranging from sexual violence, physical assault, emotional abuse, Female Genital Mutilation, teen pregnancies and early marriages among others.
The 16 Days of Activism against GBV is a global campaign that kicked off on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and runs until December 10, Human Rights Day.
The 16 Days of Activism against GBV is a period that runs from November 25 to December 10 and is commemorated every year in many parts of world, Kenya included.
The global campaign seeks to raise awareness and mobilize action to end all forms of violence against women and girls in all their diversity.
Led by civil society, the campaign is supported by the United Nations through the Secretary General’s UNiTE by 2030 to End Violence against Women initiative.
In 2024, the UN marks the 16 Days under the theme “UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.”
According to the United Nations, violence against women and girls remains the most pervasive human rights violation around the world.
The UNiTE campaign utilizes the colour orange to represent a bright future, free from violence against women and girls, as a unifying theme running through all its global activities.
It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the globe to call for the prevention of violence against women and girls.
Governor Achani who was yesterday accompanied by Lunga Lunga Deputy County Commissioner (DCC) Joseph Sawe and a host of county executives launched the activities to commemorate the 16 days of activism against GBV at Kasarani village in Vanga Ward, Lunga Lunga Sub County.
Achani says her administration has launched a sensitization programme to raise awareness and stimulate discussions on GBV in all the six sub counties.
The Governor urged security organs in Kwale to act and end the rampant cases of GBV, saying such cases that deny women and girls’ safety and comfort should not be tolerated.
She stated that while GBV affects women and girls of all ages its adolescents and young women that are particularly at risk.
“We want to visit all the six sub counties of Kwale and raise awareness on violence against women and girls and outline measures to address it,” she said reiterating her resolve to ending GBV in Kwale.
Achani encouraged all and sundry to participate in the all-inclusive campaign that seeks to end violence against women, girls and children.
She says the consequences of gender-based violence are devastating and could have life-long repercussions for survivors noting that it can lead to death if unmitigated.
Achani says the devolved unit has activated several GBV rescue and recovery centres in the sub counties providing 24-hour care to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.
She says the one-stop recovery facilities would be able to prevent GBV which commonly occurs in the family set up and provide healing for the victims at a much more rapid pace.
Achani says it’s hoped that the GBV facilities which offer comprehensive GBV response and care to be a game-changer in the efforts to fight GBV in the coastal region.
“Our rescue and recovery centres have become areas where victims and survivors can look for help and bring back their dignity and meaning to their lives,” she said.
She says the one-stop centres provide the survivors with care such as psycho social support, health and legal services.
DCC Sawe asked the communities to follow legal procedures to end violence against women and girls.
“Everyone has a right. So avoid solving GBV cases at home. Doing that is denying the victims their rights and closure,” he said.
On her side, Violet Muthiga from Sauti ya Wanawake Pwani, urged Kwale residents to report all cases of GBV to the authorities for action.
Muthiga says stakeholders should join hands in creating a society where violence against womenfolk is no longer tolerated.
By Hussein Abdullahi
