The youth have called for their involvement in the prevention and response to gender-based violence (GBV). Speaking during a youth dialogue in marking the 16 Days of Activism against GBV held on 6th December 2022 at American Space Nairobi, the youth noted that they are always seen as perpetrators of violence against women and girls but on the flip side, they too are survivors of GBV which sometimes emanate from domestic and or sexual violence.
Mr. Deogratius Magero, Youth Technical Advisor at Plan International Kenya called on the stakeholders in the GBV sphere to unpack the anti- GBV information to the youth saying this will enable the majority of the youth to join the campaign towards prevention and response to GBV and finally to its elimination in Kenya by 2026.
“We need to unpack information for the youth to be active audiences in speaking out on issues of GBV,” said Magero.
Ms. Magdalyne Were, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Coordinator at Collaborative Center for Gender and Development (CCGD), noted that youth have been victims or perpetrators of GBV unknowingly saying that there are different forms of GBV which majority youth are not aware of, as a result, this makes them either victims or preparators of such forms of GBV.
“GBV does not go after married people only. There exist diverse types of GBV that you and I have either been a victim or a perpetrator unknowingly,” she said.
The SGBV Coordinator called upon stakeholders championing for the elimination of GBV in Kenya to sensitize the youth more to increase their participation in matters of prevention and response to GBV.
Power imbalances in the household were also cited as a major cause of GBV witnessed by domestic workers who are mostly youth. Employers often take advantage of their authority to abuse the Youth.
“The cases of GBV on domestic workers are on the rise due to power imbalance in our household,” said Ms. Winfred Akumu, Deputy Executive Director, of Africa Youth Trust.
On his part, MC Kim, the Executive Director at Street Talent Africa urged stakeholders to take advantage of the skills and talent the youth have in arts to champion prevention and response to GBV.
The dialogue forum was collaboratively organized by CCGD, Plan International, American spaces, East Africa Civil Society Forum (EACSOF) and Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) -Kenya, the forum attracted 53 youth drawn from 20 organizations.
By Maurice Goga
