• Your Excellency, this calls for the government’s urgent need to prevent GBV before it happens especially during humanitarian crises through the implementation of commitments made and policies formulated toward the prevention of GBV in Kenya.
• Further, the government should consider putting more investments in GBV prevention. Mr. President, it is important to note that Kenya is leading the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence.
Dear H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH. President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-In-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces.
Your Excellency, in Kenya over 40% of women are likely to face physical and or sexual gender-based violence (SGBV) including lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in their lifetime, with over one in five girls facing child marriage or Female Genital Mutilation. Kenya has a long way to go. These numbers worsen during humanitarian crises as witnessed during the COVID -19 pandemic, elections and conflicts and wars as well as natural disasters. During these crises, women and girls become more vulnerable to GBV due to its increase. This in turn leaves the women and girls with impacts of the violence which ranges from physical harm to long-term emotional distress and even fatalities.
Your Excellency, this calls for the government’s urgent need to prevent GBV before it happens especially during humanitarian crises through the implementation of commitments made and policies formulated toward the prevention of GBV in Kenya. Further, the government should consider putting more investments in GBV prevention. Mr. President, it is important to note that Kenya is leading the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence. In this regard, in June 2021, the Government of Kenya made 12 concrete Commitments at the GEF summit in Paris. The commitments were aimed at increasing the momentum of ending all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya by 2026.
Your Excellency, following the 12 concrete Commitments made at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris in June, 2021 to end all forms of GBV, we have seen structural strategies that include robust laws and policies that speak to various forms of gender-based violence; of which the government has made strides in their implementation. Appreciating such milestones, we call upon your leadership to take further action on the implementation of the 12 commitments and the road map toward ending GBV in Kenya by 2026. In addition, we call upon you to spearhead GEF commitment number 10. “Commit to GBV prevention and response in crisis situations such as COVID-19 pandemic response, humanitarian contexts and electoral related GBV”. As this will emancipate many women and girls from physical harm to long-term emotional distress and fatalities as a result of violence.
Your Excellency, we also rely on the national leadership to strengthen the coordination of legislation and policy framework implementation; communication and advocacy; evidence generation which in turn contribute to prevention and response to GBV during pandemics, crises, and conflicts. Also, we call on you to support the Localisation of the Kenya National Action Plan on UNSCR 1325 on women, peace, and security (a policy by the UN that calls for protecting women against GBV in crisis, pandemics, and conflicts). Thank you Sir!
Truly,
Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development [email protected] & Alvin lee Anyumba Founder, Adromax Dungeon Calisthenics & Powerbuilding Coach