The National Gender-based Violence Working Group has finalised the Memorandum on Gender-based Violence including Femicide for submission to Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence that was recently gazetted by President William Ruto.
The Working Group has also provided the next steps for advocating and ratifying the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU-CEVAWG).
The Memorandum on Gender-based Violence including Femicide is expected to shape Kenya’s policy and legal frameworks for prevention, response and curbing gender-based violence including femicide.
“The recommendations by the National Gender-based Violence Working Group include stronger coordination of gender-based violence prevention and response; legal reforms and policy implementation; survivor-centred responses to ensure justice and protection for all; and increased resource allocation,” said National Gender-based Violence Working Group, Co-Chairperson, Alberta Wambua.
The Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence including Femicide serves as a critical platform for fostering collaboration among government, development partners, and the civil society organisations to accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment in Kenya.
“The rising cases of gender-based violence in the country, with increased cases of the killings of women and girls require strong whole-of-society approaches to safeguard their safety, justice, and protection.
“The recommendations to the Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence including Femicide will create a momentum for assessing, reviewing, and recommending measures to strengthen the institutional, legal, and policy response to GBV and femicide in the country,” said Ending Violence against Girls, and Women – UN Women Kenya, Team Lead, Mary Wanjiru.