By Eddah Waithaka
In a move to address the escalating crisis of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) across the Great Lakes region. Kenya has spearheaded a landmark three-day training workshop bringing together government officials, judicial officers, and civil society leaders from twelve nations.
The event, held in Nairobi today, unveiled an innovative Integrated Model for combating SGBV, a comprehensive framework that combines legal, medical, psychosocial and community-based interventions.
A Crisis Demanding Immediate Action
Speaking during the event, Deputy Director Emily Opati of Kenya’s Ministry of Gender delivered an opening address saying, “Every statistic represents shattered lives. In our region, SGBV cases have surged by 22% since 2020, with conflict zones and urban centers alike reporting alarming increases.”
Recent statistics highlight a daunting reality: only 12% of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) incidents are reported, and a staggering 65% of those reported never advance to prosecution, resulting in economic losses exceeding $2.5 billion annually across the region.
In response, Kenya is implementing a multi-pronged strategy led by Opati, which focuses on strengthening the legal framework through the Sexual Offences Act of 2014 and establishing specialized SGBV courts that have already reduced case backlogs by 40%.
The strategy also includes enhancing survivor support systems with 14 operational GBV recovery centers, the development of safe house standardization guidelines, and mobile alert systems that connect rural survivors to emergency services.
Furthermore, economic empowerment initiatives feature gender-responsive budgeting that allocates $15 million annually and microfinance programs for survivors in eight counties.
Opati emphasized the importance of community involvement, stating, “But shelters alone aren’t enough; we’re training traditional leaders, religious figures, and youth as first responders in their communities.
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The Integrated Model: A Game-Changer
Hon. Janvi’ere Ndirahisha, Regional Director of the ICGLR Training Facility, explained the breakthrough approach, “This model merges two powerful frameworks: the social-ecological model addressing root causes at individual, family and community levels, and the holistic model ensuring comprehensive survivor support.”
Key innovations in tackling sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) include the implementation of cross-border referral systems for transnational cases, the use of blockchain technology to preserve crucial medical evidence, and the introduction of one-button emergency alerts on basic mobile phones, all designed to enhance support for survivors and facilitate swift responses.
Breaking Cultural Barriers
A striking development emerged as Pastor Elijah Okoth shared Kisumu’s interfaith coalition progress, “We have engaged 3,000 men as allies through workplace and worship space programs. Change begins when patriarchs become protectors.”
Dora Byamukama, ICGLR advisor, highlighted technology’s role, “In Uganda, our coded alert system reduced response times by 70%. Kenya will pilot this next month.”
Opati concluded with urgency saying, “The weapons against SGBV exist in our laws, our communities, our technologies. What’s missing is the collective will to wield them until today.”
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