The County government of Migori County in partnership with civil society organizations has marked the beginning of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV).
Speaking during the launch, director of gender in the national government, Kenneth Oomo said that the aim is to advance and continue bringing down the cases of gender-based violence.
“The reason why we mark this day is to advance and continue bringing across the messages of gender-based violence and to reduce such instances, and possibly eradicate them,” said Kenneth.
The director also called on the public to unite against gender-based violence across Kenya in particular and the whole world in general and chart forward strategies to end the vice.
He added that the 16 days will be marked with several activities that aim at bringing solutions to end the violence against women and children, who are the majority affected.
The 2023 activism against gender-based violence is an effort that works on investing efforts to prevent violence against women and girls.
With this message, the activities also aim at sensitizing society against vices such as female genital mutilation, a retrogressive activity that encroaches on the rights of women and girls.
Lilian Okomo, Migori County director for gender, inclusivity, culture, and social services said that the day amplifies the important steps that have been made to prevent gender-based violence.
She said that the main aim is to ensure that the efforts bear fruits of ensuring that people coexist and that everyone lives peacefully without infringing the rights of others.
“We are also marking this day to tell the public that we tell our people that whoever lives in the society has equal opportunity and that everyone should be treated equally,” said Lilian.
Lilian who was the chief guest of the occasion said that the gender department has put measures to ensure that Migori County becomes zero tolerant to gender-based violence.
She said that as a County, the Department of Gender has organized a tournament to bring together people from various points of the county as a way of celebrating diversity.
This will happen within the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence where stakeholders will get opportunities to continue creating awareness about the need to do away with the vice.
“Our main focus in this is to ensure that gender-based violence in Migori becomes non-existent and that men, women, and children live peacefully,” she added.
Joseph Nyapete, a youth leader said that the 16 days will also give the public to hold civil societies accountable for the vices that still are being witnessed at home.
“As we mark these days, it is also an opportunity for the members of the public to put the duty bearers to task by asking them the efforts and mitigations they have in place towards ending SGBV,” said Nyapete.
He added that the two weeks also give voice to the victims of such violence by giving platforms for them to report any kind of violence against them.
This, he said will be possible by creating platforms and schedules for such activities at the Sub-County levels to make it possible for every member of the society to be heard.
Gloria Ochola of Tunaweza Empowerment Organization called on stakeholders of activism against gender-based violence to actively invest resources and energy in the fight against the vice while ensuring that both genders’ rights are protected.
This, she said while calling for coordination of activities between the national and County governments which aim at upholding human rights.
“As we mark this period of activism against gender violence, my plea to the stakeholders from the National Government to the CBOs is to ensure that human rights are upheld so that everyone feels protected,” she said.
Her words were also echoed by Damaris Akinyi of Imarisha Africa Initiative who said that the aim is to end any form of gender-based violence in the community.
The 16 days of activism against gender-based violence will be running up to December 10, 2023, when its climax will be the marking of the International Day of Human Rights.
KTMN Reporter 
Treeza Auma