It is time to galvanize action to end Gender based violence in Kenya.
Kisii County First lady madam Elizabeth Ongwae has called for an integrated approach to voice against gender based violence.
Speaking when she flagged off the commencement of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign at the Kisii Cultural hall, Mrs Ongwae said it was time that all join hands to make the fight a success.
Elimination of Gender based violence is very close to my heart. I call upon the Kisii residents to join hands as we eradicate it. I will ensure mass mobilization of all communities to promote collective responsibility in the fight to eradicate this scourge in our communities,” she added.
Mrs. Ongwae first met the Kisii University Vice Chancellor Prof. John Akama where a petition for the 16 days of activism to end the scourge was signed.
Mrs. Ongwae intoned that it was critical to start the event from the Kisii University in line with this year’s theme of “Making Education Safe for all.
Violence against women, Men, Youth and children is not a government responsibility but an issue that all of us have to take into consideration. Let us be proactive as we seek to make Kisii County a gender free zone,” she added.
Prof Akama said that there was need to also address issues of women to women violence. Kisii University has set up a Gender policy that protects its students from the vice.
University head of Gender Studies Dr Callen Nyamwange called on residents to address issues of child labour which were part of gender based violence.
The year 2015 marks the 20-year anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive road map to gender equality. World leaders met in March at the United Nations 59th Commission on the Status of Women and in September at the 70th General Assembly to take stock of the progress made and commit to take action to close the gaps that are holding women and girls back.
This year a new Sustainable Development agenda, which for the first time includes specific targets and indicators on ending violence against women, also replaced the Millennium Development Goals.
