Retrogressive cultural and religious practices, inept and corrupt medical practitioners and 'clueless' judicial officers are fueling violence against women, Action Aid has warned.
Such violence, which is also meted out to
girls, remains at a record high according to the rights group.
They added
that weaknesses in protection programmes scared away eyewitness resulting in the collapse of crucial cases.
“Some medical practitioners demanded payment before filling in P3 forms,” Makrina Mwamburi, Taita Taveta’s Sauti Ya Wanawake Mwangea chairperson said.
She spoke on Wednesday when women activists from across the country protested and demanded prompt action in ending the abuses.
The human rights defenders attended a consultative forum organised by Action Aid at a hotel in Mombasa.
They called for the strict implementation of Sexual Offences Act, 2006, Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2011 and Protection against Domestic Violence Act, 2015.
During the forum, it was noted that sexual violence surpassed all manner of aggression women and girls faced, including battering.
Mwaburi said exhibits mismanagement posed a great challenge in ending the scourge.
She cited religious and cultural contradiction which gave room for predators to prey.
“For example, some cultures that promote FGM seek justification in the religion,” she said.
“The other contradiction emerges when Kadhis Courts handle divorce cases that have elements of domestic violence.”
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Mwaburi also noted that cases of domestic violence have resulted in deaths.
She termed law enforcement as “weak and dodgy”.
Fatuma Ahmed, the head of Garissa County Civil Society Organization and a youth leader, said delays in court cases discouraged victims from seeking justice.
Head of Sauti Ya Wanawake, Shika Adabu chapter, Amina Juma demanded the development of a curriculum for public education on the dangers of FGM.
Juma also called on the Ministry of Health to devolve to county level,
institutions that deal with exhibits management.
“We demand that counties prioritise community education on the sexual and GBV offences,” she said.
Juma said the ‘Keep the Promise Project’ aimed at establishing rescue centers is dead.
She asked Chief Justice David Maraga and the Judicial Service Commission to provide specific time frames for hearing and determining cases of GBV and sexual abuse.
“Avail resources to facilitate witnesses during court proceedings. This should include medical practitioner who fills in the P3 form,” she added.
Demanding the strengthening of witness protection programme, Juma further asked the Attorney General to establish a case monitoring mechanism.
Action Aid wants Kadhis - who it claims are biased against women - prohibited from handling divorce cases.