Gender based violence takes three main forms – physical,
sexual and psychological. All the three have immense impact on individual and societal
development. It has now been acknowledged globally that gender based violence
is a human rights violation - a crime and that measures need to be put in place
to control and even stem out the vice.
In Kenya, reports from health facilities provide evidence
that defilement of both girls and boys is rife followed by rape of female
victims. Domestic violence, especially intimate partner violence is
increasingly being reported in most parts of the country while physical
violence meted on women is high in Western and
Nyanza regions (KDHS2008-09). National
police reports also indicate that 6.1% of reported crimes in the country are
those of sexual and gender based violence nature (2009-2011). This
notwithstanding the country’s legal framework in the form of the Constitution
and specifically, the Sexual Offences Act that provides punitive sentences
against sexual offences.
Engaging boys and men in gender equality discussions and
programme work makes good business sense. In all spheres of development, it has
become crystal clear that not much will be gained without involvement of men.
In recent times, there has been a lot of borrowing of ‘what works’ from HIV and
AIDS. Development workers realized that when and where there was male
involvement, there were better and faster gains. Greater involvement of men is
now being employed to increase uptake of contraceptives in population
programmes.
When I was coordinating the HIV/AIDS workplace programme, I
made a strategic decision to specifically target male colleagues in HIV
prevention. We started a ‘men’s club’ open to all male colleagues. From
testimonies from colleagues and later on by spouses, it was clear that
targeting men in HIV prevention bore better outcomes. I basically worked with the African
conviction that ‘the man is the bearer of news’ and the whole patriarchy
ideology. It is common knowledge that in patriarchal societies, men make rules
to be followed by women and children and that women can never come up with
ideas. For example, when we asked female colleagues to suggest use of condoms
or going for HIV testing, most of them were unwilling. Some even said their
spouses were suspicious or even threatened them. However, the converse happened
with members of the men’s club – men were able to convince their spouses and
girlfriends to use condoms.
In a pilot project targeting men and gender equality (I was
invited to an experience sharing by participants), I learnt about the power of
using men in gender equality and relationships. It was also clear for the male
participants that supporting spouses with ideas, taking up household chores and
little appreciations led to healthy and fulfilling relationships and reduced
spousal conflicts. The power of spousal communication was underscored.
Majority of perpetrators of sexual and gender based violence
in Kenya are men who are also custodians of societal and cultural ideologies.
When incest and defilement happen, it is men (especially community leaders and
chiefs) who meet to arbitrate such cases. When women press charges for sexual
and gender based violence, it is mostly men who prevail upon them to drop those
cases or agree on out of court settlement. Majority of our parliamentarians are
men whom we have to negotiate with for support to women empowerment, or
prevention of early marriages and female genital cutting debates.
In Kenya, gender equality is largely viewed as women seeking
men powers. When you mention the word gender, men casually dismiss you as just
wanting to discuss ‘women issues’. There is little knowledge about gender
equality. It all comes from our perceptions even with regard to employment
where most positions relating to gender issues are generally prioritized for
women. It follows then, that when a gender meeting is called majority of
stakeholders will send female participants.
How much ground would we cover in socio-economic development were we to have greater involvement of men? Think about it
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