The National launch of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence took place on the 25th of November at Water Grounds in Kilifi County, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women held.
The event was graced by the Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action, Hon. Aisha Jumwa among other dignitaries.
Speaking during the event, Hon Aisha Jumwa noted that there is a need for both state and non-state actors to actively participate in activities and events aimed at raising awareness on the prevention and response to GBV.
She also called for the implementation of the 12 commitments made towards the implementation of the Generation Equality Forum (GEF) both at the county and national levels.
“We should strengthen and accelerate efforts made towards the elimination of GBV in the country. Kenya has been accorded an opportunity through the new global initiative (GEF) where Kenya is a leader in the action on coalition on GBV,” said the CS.
The CS urged the residents of Kilifi not to use violence as means of resolving conflicts.
“My call to the community leaders is to engage our people to accept that times have changed and that we cannot resolve our differences or address other societal challenges by minting violence on another person,” said Hon. Aisha.
Present at the event was Kilifi Governor Hon. Gideon Mung’aro; Kilifi County Women Representative, Hon. Florence Bore; Nairobi Women Representative Hon. Esther Passaris; UN Women Country Representative Anna Mutavati; UNFPA County Representative Anders Thomsen, National GBV Gender Sector Working Group Co-chairs, MS. Alberta Wambua and Mr. Masheti Masinjila among other leaders
Similarly, various counties including Mombasa, Kwale, Baringo and Samburu among others also launched the 16 Days of Activism against GBV in their respective counties.
In Mombasa County, the event was held at Uwanja wa Cinema in Tudor where a number of stakeholders under the GBV sector working group including survivors of GBV attended the event. Gracing the event was the Mombasa County Commissioner, Mr. John Otieno who called for collaborated efforts amongst the stakeholders to continue protecting and promoting women’s rights which will see many women protected from incidents of GBV thus preventing more cases of GBV in the county.
In Kwale County, the event was marked at Mwavumbo, Samburu sub-county with calls for the stakeholders to amplify the voices of survivors as they seek justice against the perpetrators of GBV.
