The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual global campaign that runs from November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until December 10 (Human Rights Day), emphasizing the impact of violence against women. The theme for year 2024 is “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”. This is because in 2025, we will mark 30 years since the launch of the Beijing Platform for Action.
The UNiTE campaign encourages duty bearers, including states and private sector companies, to prioritize recommitment, accountability, and resourcing during the assessment of the Beijing Platform for Action and Political Declaration's 30th anniversary. To end impunity and prevent violence against women and girls, it is important to implement comprehensive strategies in collaboration with women's rights organisations, allocate necessary resources, and report on progress, with a focus on femicide as a particularly serious issue.
As for Kenya, the progress report on the Beijing +30 demonstrates the linkages between the 12 critical areas of concern of the Beijing Platform for Action and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under SDG 5 targets. The two frameworks reinforce each other on measures the country is undertaking in accelerating Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through:
- Inclusive development, shared prosperity, and decent work;
- Poverty eradication, social protection, and social services;
- Freedom from violence, stigma, and stereotypes;
- Participation, accountability, and gender-responsive institutions;
- Peaceful and inclusive societies; and,
- Environmental conservation, protection, and rehabilitation.
In 2024, women and girls continue to be murdered because of their gender. Women in the public eye (including those in politics), women human rights defenders and journalists are often targets of intentional acts of violence, both online and offline, with some leading to fatal outcomes and intentional killings. Women rights movements have made progress in preventing and responding to Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), but there are still substantial challenges to be overcome in order to resolve this issue.
Gender-based violence affects women differently, necessitating legal and policy responses tailored to their unique circumstances. Claiming specific identities can increase the risk of discrimination, exclusion, and violence. These discriminatory factors include ethnicity/race, indigenous or minority status, colour, socioeconomic status and/or caste, language, religion or belief, political opinion, national origin, marital and/or maternal status, age, urban/rural location, health status, disability, property ownership, being lesbian, bisexual, transgender or intersex, and illiteracy.
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) will this year continue to participate in amplifying the voices of survivors through various survivor centered initiatives it has adopted. The KNCHR will demonstrate the need to utilize the ‘do-no-harm’ approach in telling survivor stories. The Commission will also highlight efforts made to ensure that the survivors are exposed to conditions that empower them to address their needs on their own terms in a way that prioritises their rights, safety, dignity and confidentiality. In a series of documenting the journey of the survivors of sexual violence of 2017, the Commission illustrates the efforts it has taken to address the needs of the survivors and provide remedies in medical and mental health as well as psychosocial support, empowerment and enhancing access to justice.
This year, there are various ways you can participate in the global campaign. You can do so by:
- Being an ally and standing against VAWG;
- Participating in local activities that advocate for survivors;
- Educate others about the importance of ending violence against women and girls;
- Speaking out. Using your voice to challenge harmful norms and support survivors in your community.
- Engaging in Advocacy. Participating in campaigns and initiatives that push for stronger laws, better enforcement, and more resources to end VAWG.
We all have a role to play in ending violence against women and girls in the society. To effectively combat gender-based violence, we need to understand the issue. Therefore, we call on government to invest more in GBV data collection for data driven interventions. This will be key in reducing gaps in gender sensitive data and will ensure successful prevention measures and provision of the right support to survivors.
By Elijah Rotok
Senior Human Rights Officer, Reforms and Accountability, KNCHR