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WANJIRU: Violence against women and girls threat to SDGs

Violence against women and girls is associated with lower economic activity.

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by MILKAH WANJIRU

Star-blogs28 November 2023 - 15:08
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In Summary


  • Achievement of full human potential and sustainable development is not possible if one-half of humanity continues to be denied its full human rights and opportunities.
  • Violence against women and girls is associated with lower economic activity, driven mainly by a significant drop in female employment
Gender-based violence victim.

As the world marks 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, cruelty against women continues to be one of the leading causes of death, poverty and inequality in the world.

Thirty years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on Elimination of Violence against Women, the world is still far from being a safe space for women.

Women and girls continue to be attacked shamed, threatened and subjected to violence for articulating their needs, including their basic human and reproductive health rights.

Violence is not limited to any particular region, political level, level of economic prosperity or culture. Women leaders and representatives have been attacked and continue to be attacked, body shamed using misogynist and sexist language, having their integrity and values questioned. These are ways used by men and society to silence women from expressing their rights to express themselves.

According to World Health Organization, globally, an estimated 736 million women aged 15 or older have been subjected to GBV once in their lifetime either from an intimate partner or someone other than a partner. The problem is prevalent in Africa, where 36 per cent of women have been exposed to violence.

In 2017, 87,000 women were killed worldwide by an intimate partner or family member. Globally, the risk of women being killed by a partner or family member is highest in Africa, with a homicide rate of 3.1 per 100,000.

In Kenya, similar to most African countries, GBV disproportionately affects more women than men. Statistics from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey carried out by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics indicates that 40 per cent of women have experienced physical or sexual intimate violence.

These alarming numbers continue to jeopardise the achievement of SDGs. A safe world for women is essential for achieving other development goals such as poverty eradication, access to healthcare and education, decent work and just and peaceful societies.

Achievement of full human potential and sustainable development is not possible if one-half of humanity continues to be denied its full human rights and opportunities.

Violence against women and girls is associated with lower economic activity, driven mainly by a significant drop in female employment: less women working means a low GDP of a country and increased poverty level.

As the world continues to work on achieving the SDGs by 2030, violence against women limits the achievement of the goals. Addressing violence against women requires a coordinated and multi-sectoral approach that involves all sections of society, states and the international community. Let’s end the violence.

Reproductive health champion, YEM Kenya

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