Making the Case known: Addressing Sexual Gender Based Violence

 

"I rise because a world without Violence Against Women and Children is a better world for EVERYONE" ~ Kimtai Birech

Making the Case known: Addressing Sexual Gender Based Violence

Violence against women and children continues unabated in every continent, country and culture.

It takes a devastating toll on women’s lives, on their families and on society as a whole. Most societies prohibit such violence –yet the reality is that too often, it is covered up or tacitly condoned.

Let us remember: there is no blanket approach to fighting violence against women and children.

What works in one community may not lead to desired results in another.

Each community must devise its own strategy. But there is one universal truth, applicable to all cultures and communities: violence against women and children is never acceptable, never excusable, and never tolerable.”

Partnership working will bring us considerable success in recent years.

We must continue to move forward and to take whatever action is necessary to achieve our ultimate aim; to create a Kenya in which violence against women and our children no longer exists.’

Violence against women and children is a major societal and public health issue which is recognized at both national and international level.

As such, SGBV is a cross cutting issue and effectively addressing the issues requires effective local partnerships and links. We need partnerships with designated coordinators and membership drawn from both the statutory and non-statutory sector which must have a key role in driving this agenda and enabling partners to „make the links‟ both strategically and operationally at a local level.

In working to address SGBV, we need to take into account the following (which i call the 4P's)

• Prevention

We need to prevent, remove or diminish the risk of violence against women and and children as well as its impact on children and young people.

• Protection

We need to protect women from victimization, repeat victimization or harassment by perpetrators and protect the children and young people affected.

• Provision

We need to provide adequate services to deal with the consequences of violence against women and children to help them rebuild their lives.

• Participation

We need to ensure policy making and practice development around violence against women is shaped by the experiences, needs and views of those who use services.

What therefore are the Guiding Principles?

Principles which support and guide the Violence Against Women and children agenda are outlined within Safer Lives: Changed Lives, A shared approach to tackling violence against

1. Violence against women is a violation of human rights 
2. Violence against women takes many forms and responses should take account of the links between them 
3. Promoting equality between men and women is a key element in tackling violence against women 
4. Socialization of boys and girls from an early age is important and should emphasize equality and respect. 
5. Perpetrators should be held to account and made to take responsibility for their actions. 
6. Prevention of and reduction in violence against women are the key objectives 
7. Solutions are best achieved through partnerships and collaborative working.