Freedom from fear: Lobbies now demand end to femicide

Human rights organisations are horrified by the alarming rise in femicide cases in Kenya.

The Voice for Women and Girls’ Rights, a project of Journalists for Human Rights-Kenya; Usikimye; the Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders-Kenya and the #ENDFEMICIDEKE movement condemned the acts.

This year alone, over 100 women have been reported killed, according to government data.

The lobbies called upon all duty bearers to put an end to these gross violations and protect the lives of women and girls.

In a statement to the media, they noted that these violations systematically deprive Kenyan women and girls of their rights as citizens, leaving them to live in fear.

“While the recent wave of brutal murders highlights a deeper societal issue, it is disturbing to note that this is not only exposing women to gross Gender Based Violence but to violation of their human rights and freedoms,” they noted.

They called on the government to invest towards ending violence against women. 

“While we appreciate recent public acknowledgement from senior government officials, including the President of the Republic of Kenya, we believe government actions towards addressing gender based violence need to match public declarations.”

To address the vice, the government needs to allocate resources to ensure the full implementation of existing GBV laws and policies.

These include monitoring mechanisms to hold duty-bearers accountable, increased funding for GBV prevention and response initiatives.

Additionally, a substantial budget allocation that supports shelters, legal aid and psycho-social support services for survivors should be considered.

“The government should also invest in campaigns to raise awareness about GBV and challenge harmful societal norms that perpetuate violence against women and provide financial support to grassroots organisations that work directly with survivors of violence and advocate for systemic change.”

Under the due diligence doctrine, states have an obligation to respect, protect and uphold women’s right to be free from gender discrimination, including all forms of gender-based violence, they added.

The due diligence principle requires states to take reasonable steps to prevent GBV.

“This means that states must take corrective and positive action in all areas in which GBV exists,such as engaging in community education around violence against women and girls, or passing preventative legislation.”

Should the administration fail to protect women from harm and incidences of gendered violence occur, this principle requires the said states to take affirmative measures to respond to the harm.

The lobbies argued that the obligation to protect women from GBV and address harm when it occurs requires a holistic, multispectral effort.

The Judiciary is not exempt from such efforts, they said.

While underscoring that the state has a fundamental obligation to protect women from violence, uphold the rule of law and guarantee the safety and security particularly of women and girls, the organisations reiterated their commitment to the cause.

“JHR, Usikimye, CGHRD-Mathare and like minded organisations represented here today, remain committed to advocate for a country free of violence and ensuring that the rights and freedoms of all individuals, particularly women and girls are respected and protected.”