Background

In Kenya, it is estimated that up to 30% of girls and 18% of boys experience sexual violence by the age of 18 years. Sexual Violence is associated with adverse sexual and reproductive (SRH) health, increased mental health problems and alcohol and substance abuse disorders.

ICRHK currently implements a project to increase awareness and community response towards sexual and gender-based violence, supported by the AmplifyChange. The project is ongoing in Mombasa, County from February 2019.

Interventions and activities – January to December 2019

ICRHK trained key persons in the community on SGBV, to facilitate community dialogue sessions.. We prioritized professions/people who have an influence on the community but who are not typically involved in SGBV prevention and response. These included:

1. Police officers
2. Religious leaders
3. Local journalists
4. Members of the county assembly
5. Motor cycle riders (boda boda)

ICRHK supported Mombasa County to set-up a Technical working group (TWG) on SGBV. The TWG ensures a multisectoral approach towards SGBV prevention and response in the county

The TWG is drafting the county’s first five-year SGBV strategic plan (2020 to 2025) which will guide priorities for SGBV prevention and response.

The project is working to review the ‘Facing Violence Booklet.’ This was a creative space project comprised of individual short stories on SGBV, first published by ICRHK in 2013. In 2020, a consultant has been engaged to collect unique stories and develop a second edition of the book, to be used as a resource for sensitization on SGBV. The stories will also be transcribed and aired in various radio stations to enhance community awareness on SGBV.

Key achievements 

1. 30 religious leaders (Christian, Muslim, Hindu and traditionalists) trained in July 2019.
2. To date, the religious leaders have conducted 15 community SGBV forums and reached more than 1, 500 of their faithful with information on SGBV.
3. 20 journalists trained in August 2019.
4. To date, 11 articles on SGBV have featured in print, radio and TV, directly attributed to the journalists who participated in the training.
5. 20 boda boda operators (local motorcycle taxi operators) were trained on SGBV.
6. A local motorcycle taxi operator (boda boda) who was part of the SGBV training became an SGBV champion. In two occasions, he has responded to SGBV by accompanying survivors to the SGBV center and the police station. 
7. 10 paralegals trained and engaged to facilitate community engagement on SGBV. They have conducted over 20 community dialogues and sensitized more than 2,000 community members.
8. One religious leader, one journalist and two police officers trained by ICRHK  joined the SGBV Technical Working Group.