Thirty-five adolescents and youth champions have been trained on advocacy to enhance policy analysis for better implementation of the Kwale SGBV Protection Bill, 2023.
The Bill was passed and signed by Governor Fatuma Achani last year. It awaits budget for implementation.
The approval came after years of push and pull by activists and human rights organisations to have the Bill signed into law.
The training was sponsored by Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW). The two-year programme is ending this month.
The training included enhancement of better decision-making, effective communication and memo writing.
DSW project officer Stephen Kibindio said the programme was designed to build the capacity of youth on policy analysis and improve their understanding.
He said the youth went to the grassroots to educate and create awareness, among residents, on the gender Bill.
"The training enhanced the adolescent and youth champions on policy analysis, better engagement with policies during public hearings. Ten youth champions participated in public participation at the ward level to voice their peers' proposals on the Bill," Kibindio said.
According to the county statistics, 693 cases of GBVs were reported between January and September 2023.
Of the cases, 393 involved the youth.
Kibindio said engaging the youth in public participation forums on the gender Bill helped to establish referral systems for victims and witnesses of SGBV.
It also helped promote access to justice for victims and survivors.
"Together with Sauti ya Wanawake and Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development, they supported the county assembly to orient MCAs on the provisions of the Bill to fast-track debates, once it is tabled for the second reading," he said.
Kibindio said the enactment of the Bill is crucial as it provides a legal framework for the protection of GBV victims.
He said the Bill seeks to establish an SGBV board to spearhead the development of policies (County Action Plan for Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender-Based Violence).
The officer said the Bill will lead to the construction of rescue and recovery centres for SGBV victims in county and subcounty health facilities.
Kibindio said SGBV victims will access medical, security, legal and psychosocial services in a one-stop centre.
One of the peer educators, Biasha Jasho, said lack of rescue centres is denying victims of sexual violence justice.
She said most cases involve close family members and the victims find it difficult to take legal actions against the perpetrators.
Jasho said the victims are threatened and traumatised since they live under one roof with the culprits.
