BY ATIENO OLANG
In a world where social structures have put women in the lower cadre, intrinsic social aspects that determine how women access resources, information or services are often ignored.
We have normalized this to an extent where even the survivor of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) does not feel violated enough to report. There are multiple cultural myths and misconceptions that perpetuate violence against women, more so sexual violence.
For instance, in the Luo community, decisions and actions surrounding sorghum farming are centred around sexual encounters that act as a fertility ritual to get good harvests. So, the rituals must be performed during land preparation, before planting up to the harvesting. Therefore, a single woman who desires to farm sorghum may be forced to exchange sexual acts in order to farm sorghum and guarantee a better harvest.
The lack of proper representation of women’s needs in political spaces remains utterly beckoning, despite the legislative frameworks which promote and protect their sexual rights and the two-thirds Gender rule in Kenya, the lacklustre implementation strategies are often loud and disturbing.
Delayed justice has been a bottle neck in the journey for reforms and access to justice for rape victims due to the patriarchal nature of the justice systems within the country.
Its high time we had reflective engagements on gender and social inclusion through a community practice which enhances positive cultural practices which embrace women’s participation in all spheres of life and protect their needs. Similarly, policy frameworks that address SGBV matters ought to have implementation strategies which are well financed.
With the festivities ahead, young people run the risks of being exposed to negative activities especially in the absence of guidance from parents, teachers or mentors. Through grants, young people can start income generating activities hence keeping them busy throughout resulting to reducing SGBV risks.
Meaningful youth participation in legislative processes goes a long way in ensuring young people put duty bearers to account for some of the issues affecting them. Their representation and involvement in county processes ensures youth friendly services are planned and budgeted for.
Keeping in mind young people from vulnerable households, gender-based violence further sets them on the fringes where their voices are not heard. Having been exposed to sexual gender-based violence, lads from poor households often times drop out of school, Pregnant teenage girls are chased away from their families and sodomized boys often times commit suicide.
The just ended 16 days of activism created a space for sharing knowledge around GBV and advocating for policy reforms. But how do we sustain the engagements? Is the “16 days” just a buzz word only for us to relapse to default settings once more?
