Reaction kenyane a une situation kenyane...

Campaign must be stepped up to eliminate violence against women


Publication Date: 3/9/2007
Yesterday the world marked the International Women’s Day. One of the issues of grave concern is the gender-based violence afflicting women and girls.

In most of our communities, men are socialised to have a low opinion of women. This is well anchored in our cultural practices and beliefs. Culture is not static but the changes come too slowly.

I, therefore, urge all Kenyans to re-evaluate our attitudes, and do away with any practices that discriminate against and dehumanise any citizen.

Violence against women and children, whether physical, verbal or psychological, should be condemned. Our homes should be places for peaceful co-existence. It is dehumanising when a father or mother resorts to physical and verbal abuse of the spouse and/or children.

Although there are indications that men also suffer spouse abuse, women and children are most affected. Children who grow up in such homes are also likely to become abusers.

Our responsibility as a nation is to do all that is within our power to spread knowledge to change our poor attitudes towards women and children. Let every spouse, and every parent provide an environment for peace in our homes.

We should realise that most of the violence we witness in the streets is a replay of the environment we provide for our children at home.

The current crime wave by young people could well be explained from this point of view. As parents, some of us may be too busy working, and when we come back home, all we do is quarrel and call each other unprintable names, sometimes in the presence of our children. Children in such families may turn to drugs or crime.

It is also our responsibility to create awareness among women and girls and let them know that they need not stay in abusive relationships however young or old they may be.
Women and girls should not fear to report cases of violence against them to law enforcement agencies at the earliest opportunity.

The police need to be well trained and equipped and be ready to come to the rescue of the victims and apprehend the culprits regardless of their social status. The law courts should expediently prosecute them and provide redress and justice to the victims without discrimination.

Kenyans should take concrete steps towards the eradication of gender-based violence not only in the household, but at all levels of our society. Let’s put in place systems to protect our girls and women from rape and our young boys from sodomy.

The recently passed Sexual Offences Act should be used to deter potential rapists and abusers. Let’s inculcate the goodwill of peaceful coexistence at all levels in our society.

We must acknowledge and celebrate our mothers, wives, girlfriends and daughters for what they are and have been to us and our society. The challenge is to work towards eradication of gender-based violence.

JUMA ALARO,
Nairobi.