Many times, survivors of violence are stuck on where to go to report the incident and get justice.
The first respondents that they reach out to are crucial to whether they get to see justice or not, depending on the correct channel they use.
The first place a survivor must go to after an incident of sexual gender-based violence or any other physical form of violence is the hospital.
The Center for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW Kenya) advises that a survivor confides in a trustworthy person who will accompany them to the nearest hospital.
“At the hospital, they will receive a medical exam to access injuries, as well as get emergency contraceptive pills to prevent pregnancy and Post-exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) to prevent contracting HIV/AIDS,” said CREAW.
While at the hospital, CREAW says that a psycho-social session should be conducted to help with the trauma of the incident and follow-up sessions can be scheduled.
The next step is going to file a report at the Police Station Gender Desk.
“An OB number will be given to the survivor as well as P3 forms to sign after the statements concerning what transpired are taken down. A follow-up by the Investigations department will be conducted as well,” said CREAW.
It is important to note that P3 forms are free and should not be paid for.
Usually, a public prosecutor may be assigned to a survivor with no legal representation once a perpetrator has had charges brought against them.
Non-governmental organisations like CREAW and the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA) may also provide free legal aid to survivors at this point in preparation for going to court.
The next step, Court Hearing, will see pleas taken by the perpetrator, mentions of the date of the ruling and finally the ruling by the judge that will usually favour the survivor if all the right procedures were taken.
They said that the goal of the referral pathway is not solely to increase the number of cases referred but to improve the quality and timeliness of care received from well-coordinated services.
“The National hotline for reporting GBV is 1195, Gender and Child protection services are 0800 730 999 and the CREAW’s hotline is 0800 720 186,” they reminded.
