SGBV advocacies use Sauti Art Exhibition to create awareness

Advocacy met art in the Sauti Exhibition which showcased a collection of work from visual and performance artists that captures and represents the stories of 21 women and girls from marginalised groups.

Sauti Art Exhibition took place from Thursday to Sunday at the Rosslyn Riviera Mall in Nairobi. 

It was a project by Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health (TICAH) in collaboration with other civil society groups like IBIS, Positive Young Women Voices and Border Hub. 

The exhibition was open to the public, healthcare providers, policymakers and community advocates. 

They were welcomed to the launch of the Sauti Exhibition to learn, engage and listen to the voices of adolescent girls and young women from urban and rural areas, women with disabilities and sex workers.  

During the launch, TICAH Executive Director Jedidah Maina said the objective of Sauti Exhibition was three-fold.

"We wanted to create awareness of the sexual and reproductive health experiences of women with disabilities, sex workers and adolescents in rural and urban areas," she said. 

Maina said they also wanted to provide nuances to their hindered access to rights and services and to enable more conversations about inclusivity and non-discrimination.

She said the exhibition emphasises their responsibility in changing reality.

Maina said this can be done by normalising conversations about sex and accessing reproductive health services.

"Stigma leads to dangerous strategies to address health needs as well as girls enduring violence without any support to end it," she said. 

Maina said society can also take responsibility by speaking up. 

She said women with disabilities shared that they experience sexual harassment in daily interactions like climbing onto motorbikes.

"If you see something, say something," Maina urged. 

She also called for designation of a judgment-free and education-oriented service for adolescents at health care facilities where they can learn and ask questions about contraceptives and safe sex.

Additionally, she said it is important to ensure understanding of what consent looks like in any relationship, sexual or otherwise.

"Consent is freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic and specific. Respect a woman’s boundaries. Paying for sex does not entitle you to own her; giving money to your girlfriend does not mean you can harm her or demand an abortion," she said. 

The project came about in 2021 when the Aunty Jane Hotline team with the support of IBIS conducted research to understand the sexual reproductive health rights information available within specific potentially high priority groups.

These high priority groups engaged in the study are groups who could easily benefit from post-trauma services but have not been seen to utilise the services as expected, including sex workers, women with disability, adolescent girls.

TICAH in collaboration with IBIS, sought to take the conversation to a larger platform and highlight some of the challenges experienced with these marginalised groups.

Research assistants then conducted the interviews with 21 girls and women who graciously shared their stories, hoping that vocalising their needs would improve not only their circumstances, but those of girls to come.

As they revealed insights about gender based violence and the barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services, the interviewees also highlighted the importance of organisations and communities that have supported them through difficult experiences and decision making.