Coast Women In Development & Pwani Gender Based Violence.
LAUNCH OF 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AT KADONGO GROUNDS MOMBASA KENYA on November 25, 2010
‘Heroism is to respect rights of Women and Children’
Background
About 16 Days of Activism
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an international campaign originating from the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991. The idea of the campaign is to draw attention at a local, national and global level to the different forms of violence that women face. It also aims to show the link between violence against women and human rights highlighting that such violence is a human rights violation; thus the dates chosen for the campaign November 25 - International Day Participants chose the dates, November 25th, International Day Against Violence Against Women, and December 10th, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a human rights violation. This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates, including November 29th , International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1st , World AIDS Day, 3rd December, International Disables Day and December 6, the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.
Every year, the 16 Days against Gender Violence Campaign kicks off all over the world to create awareness against gender based violence against women. With all women affected, from the old to the young to the girl child, these 16 days of activism highlight the violence against women and calls out for unity and togetherness in combating these issues
With women the world over facing the fear of falling victim to violent crime on a daily basis, the 16 days of Activism begins with a call for action. Over 1000 people attended the launch of 16 Days of Activism at Kadongo grounds, Mishomoroni. The purpose was to create awareness to the society on the need for prevention against Gender Based Violence.
Introduction
Opening remarks were made by representative of Pwani GBV network, Grace Oloo who introduced Pwani Gender Based Violence Network (Pwani GBV network) as a group effort of the various organizations addressing issues of gender in general and gender based violence in particular at the Coastal Region in Kenya in collaboration with National Commission on Gender and Development. The network which is currently housed by Coast Women In Development (CWID) was initiated after concerns that the survivors received poor services from the various service providers.
The MC of the event was Mohammed Hamisi a human rights activist, a counselor and a volunteer by CWID. In his introduction, reflected that every member of the society has a role in practicing the rights of women and girls and the messages start earlier than ever before. Women as well as men are faced with gender based violence. The participants in the launch, he asserted, are volunteers in the implementation of practicing the rights of women and children. Women must be in the fore-front to point out issues that they face daily in their homes. This will enable the society to have a voice.
Women leader
A representative of the women leaders in Mombasa Mrs Niftator Kamzuzu came in with a word of caution to her fellow women. She said it is time they stood up for themselves since no one is able to solve the problems they face than they themselves. It was also put out clearly that they needed to bring themselves close to the authorities and solve their issues in the right manner.
Message from the Asst. Chief
The assistant chief Mrs. Rachel Nzaro was represented by a village elder Mama Fatuma Kassim who also advocated for the rise and speed action for women to curb this vice of gender violence especial at work places. She also highlighted on the numerous cases they handle in the office that are directly related to gender violence. She highlighted that women also do violet other women`s rights specially cases which they handle in their offices of house helps. (Domestic worker).
Area Chief
The area chief Mr. Said pleaded to the area residents to come together as one and as a family to assist in the eradication of gender based violence. Speaking as a family man he advised that men are also fighting gender based violence and that they are practicing it right from their own homes, because charity begins at home. Therefore they serve as role models to the women themselves.
Deputy Mayor Madam Salma from Kilifi County sharing ideas with Amina Abdalla the Mombasa women activist
Representative from the Gender Office
A representative from the Gender Office, Irene Randu addressed the crowd by appreciation Coast Women in Development and the Pwani GBV network for organizing such a noble event. It was a sign that the society needs sensitization and more creation of awareness on the need for prevention against gender based violence. She also added that their office is usually ready to solve cases of such and is working hand in hand with other organizations to reduce such incidences in future.
Amina Abdalla Asst Guest
As a woman in the political arena she advocated for women to take it upon themselves to fight ignorance and illiteracy. The woman is the pillar of the family thus any information passing through her is certainly going to reach the women at the grassroots level. She challenged more women to join her in the field so that they could reach out for resources that would empower women economically which will in turn reduce chances of being victims of gender based violence. She also condemned hard drugs in Kiasuni as the source of GBV.
Deputy Mayor Kilifi County
The deputy Mayor for Kilifi County madam Salma challenged women to stand up and fight gender based violence by being responsible and intelligent in their work places and also in their homes. She shared out that men if involved can play a greater role in assisting to eliminate GBV. She also encouraged girl education and women to be on the fore front on fighting child prostitution.
Councilor Esther Kache
A prominent woman who is a councilor at the Kilifi Count Council. She raised the torch on the need for more sensitization on the new constitution that recognized both rights of the same sexes without discriminating people with disabilities and the minorities, the women gains in the new constitution if implemented will benefit not only women but the whole society, she also urged the Ministry of gender and children to inform women on how to access the development grants to enable them be economically empowered.
Representative for people living with disabilities
Lucy Chesi, a human rights activist and a representative from the group of people living with disabilities, who specially fights for the rights of people living with disabilities, asserted that every human being should be respected and it is their right. She spoke about lack of interest by most involved organizations to participate in the fight against gender based violence. These results in the lagging behind of searching for justice for parties involved in these vices. She pleaded to the public to join hands in fighting for the rights of people with disability.
Concluding remarks
Programme’s coordinator of Coast Women in Development, Betty Sharon appreciated the collective work of Pwani GBV and members of the union workers, Government representatives and of all those who participated and reckoned that this was a calling that each and every member of the society needed to come up and say ‘no’ to the practice of gender based violence at the homes and schools, religion places and at the work places. She also added that it was not a one man show but an initiative that the whole society was meant to grab and fulfill with passion and zeal.
Procession to commemorate 16 days of activism
Participant in a procession for the launch of 16 days of activism 2010.
The event that began with a procession to notify the public of the need for uniting to fight gender based violence. The local theme ‘ushujaa ni kuthamini haki za wanawake na watoto’ means that heroism is to Respect the rights of Women and Children, was an initiative to bring the local person to understand the need to respect and practice human rights. The international theme ‘structures of violence; defining the intersections of militarism and violence against women’ was localized in order to fit in to our Kenyan rural setting which uses Swahili as the national language.
Betty Sharon from CWID giving vote of thanks.
Report Compiled by:
May Odhiambo,
Communication Officer
Coast Women in Development (CWID)