A digital application for reporting Gender Based Violence incidents has been developed to enhance the fight against the triple threat— HIV infections, gender-based violence and adolescent pregnancies — in Homa Bay.
The GBV is a serious challenge in Homa Bay as statistics indicate that the prevalence of physical GBV is 54.5 per cent while that of sexual (SGBV) is 23 per cent in the county.
Centre for Women Empowerment & Technology (CWE-TECH), in collaboration with the Homa Bay government and over 10 other partners, launched an application called Dignity App, where residents can forward their cases of human rights violations for help.
It is reported that many GBV incidents go unreported to law enforcement agencies, and this encourages perpetrators.
SGBV has also made teen pregnancy and HIV infection thrive in Homa Bay.
CWE-TECH co-founder Eunice Owino and the Power for the People (PFP Dreams Global) project manager Caren Okombo said they are working together with partners to ensure the online application helps address the triple threat in Homa Bay.
Owino said the application is aimed at enabling residents to report cases of GBV for appropriate action.
When the report is made, leaders of the organisations pick the incidents and follow up for interventions.
According to Owino, the application has the components of education and reporting, which enable people to report incidents whenever their rights are violated.
The app is a tool for information that will operate 24 hour to help people anytime. She said this will ensure survivors get justice.
“Let the people of Homa Bay, whose rights have been violated, report GBV issues to the app to ensure we tackle the menace. We’re working in tandem with law enforcement agencies for punitive legal action to discourage the vice,” Owino said.
The application was launched at Kadongo trading centre in Kabondo Kasipul constituency in a ceremony attended by Prof Pamela Raburu of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology.
Owino said the application has a component on education which can enable users to learn.
“By reporting the incidents, we will also assess the survivors’ situations and intervene in case there is a need,” she said.
Okombo said the app prevents victimisation of GBV whistleblowers as it allows people to report the incidents anonymously.
She called on residents to embrace technology and report cases of GBV.
People operating the app will strive to provide answers to questions being asked and solutions to problems people face in society.
“Through anonymous reporting, the app will encourage many people to report the cases. Those who report such cases we will cushion them from victimisation,” Okombo said.
Raburu said the application will promote education in the area by reducing teenage pregnancies.
“The app allows real time reporting of GBV incidents and this is expected to reduce teenage pregnancies. This intervention will promote education of girls in this county if utilised well,” Raburu said.
Homa Bay GBV activities coordinator Michael Ochola said triple threat which includes teen pregnancy, HIV infection and GBV has been on the rise in the county.
“People who suffer from GBV are prone to contracting HIV or fall victims of teenage pregnancies. Such interventions will help us reduce triple threat,” Ochola said.
