Mombasa County Government has collaborated with The Aga Khan Foundation in a workshop that aims at safeguarding gender equality, sustainable development, and social welfare for the Coast Region and the Country at large.
The Advancing Gender Equality through Civil Society (AGECS) Global Learning Workshop gathered 130 participants representing Civil Society Organizations, Universities, and Research Institutions from 14 Countries, Primarily across Africa and Asia.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) is a globally renowned, private, not-for-profit international development agency established in 1967 by His Highness the Aga Khan and is dedicated to addressing the challenges faced by the world’s most marginalized communities, with a particular emphasis on empowering women and girls.
Speaking at the AGECS workshop held at Pride Inn Paradise, Mombasa, County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Gender, Social Services, and Sports Kenneth Ambani urged men to acknowledge and protect women as they have rights to live a peaceful and comfortable life as well.
“Gender-based violence has become a matter of serious concern because we have had numerous cases in the country and women have taken to the streets to fight for their rights against being killed by men,” Ambani said.
Ambani said that it is also important to keep educating the youth and creating more awareness about the consequences of early pregnancies and marriages.
“Unplanned and early pregnancies end up trapping young people in life because there is a new being added to your life and you must take care of it while you are still figuring out your own life financially, morally, and you still do not understand how to raise a child properly,” he added.
He observed that these repercussions often led young people to resort to drugs for comfort, unaware that it only exacerbates the situation further.
“Let us prioritize humanity first; we are all human beings. If you eat, drink, and breathe comfortably, remember that your fellow human beings also need these things to survive,” he urged.
Kennedy Mambo Chande, an overseer of the Advancing Gender through Civil Society Project at the Aga Khan Foundation said that as much as the scheme focuses on gender issues, they were also working to ensure that the organizations partnering with them are empowered to successfully implement their agenda in the society.
He said that they have been in collaboration with two organizations in the Coast Region, namely ‘Sauti ya Wanawake Pwani’ and Dream Achievers Youth Organization.
“The issue of femicide has struck the entire country and it is extremely saddening. We are pleased to have come together with various organizations to discuss, share, educate, and see which methods and strategies will bring benefits in the fight for gender equality,” Chande said.
It was observed that by the conclusion of the forum, the participants would depart with the understanding and spread the word that we are all human beings and are entitled to enjoy our human rights.
By Fatma Said
