Activate Nairobi campaign kicks off as 16 days of gender activism starts

To mark the start of the global 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, the ‘Activate Nairobi’ campaign was unveiled last Friday at UON with a concise message about the need to fight against GBV.

The campaign is a collaborative effort between the Department of gender affairs, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Italian Cultural Institute (IIC) and the Embassy of Italy in Kenya.

‘Activate Nairobi’ is an awareness campaign that aims to stimulate debate on GBV and complementary themes, such as the promotion of equal opportunities, gender stereotypes, climate change on the gender issue, and respect for the rights of girls and boys.

According to The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS), more than 4 in 10 women in Kenya have faced physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lives.

Additionally, around 1 in 4 girls get married early, and about 1 in 5 undergo Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the country.

The event was inaugurated by Italian Ambassador Roberto Natali in the absence of the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action PS Anne Wangombe.

Ambassador Natali said it is imperative to sensitise, talk inform and educate our children about respect, and equality.

“Our children need to know that the idea of force can never be an instrument of dialogue. If we can do it together, we will be more effective and we will build more sustainable solutions,” he said.

PS Wangombe noted that gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls are essential to eradicate poverty and build a global society based on sustainable development, social justice and human rights.

Statistics by the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW-Kenya) show that over 3,762 cases of GBV were reported in 2022.

Out of those cases, 2,985 cases were by women while 777 cases were by men.

“We recognize the challenges faced by women, particularly in arid and semi-arid lands, and through our initiatives, we aim not just to confront these challenges, but to empower women to empower the society as they play a pivotal role,” head of AICS regional office of Nairobi Giovanni Grandi said.

 “Culture is a bridge between nations, and unfortunately, women’s voices are historically underrepresented. The activities of the Activate Nairobi campaign aim to bring Italian culture to the forefront in the global fight against gender violence,” IIC director Elena Gallenca added.

Activate Nairobi will run until December 10, alongside several impactful events to highlight the magnitude of violence against women lined up.

The campaign events will include a theatre performance, two evenings of stand-up comedy by a leading comedy group in Nairobi, film screenings, and two forums dedicated to survivors of GBV cases in Kenya, authorities, and stakeholders.