WUNRN
News
Flash: UNIFEM and Education Centre for Women Democracy Launch the Gender Rapid
Response Unit in Kenya
18 October, 2007
Unit
Established to Respond to Electoral Violence Against Women in Kenya
UNIFEM
in partnership with the Education Centre for Women in Democracy (ECWD) launched
the Gender Rapid Response Unit (GRRU) the first of its kind in Kenya at a
colorful ceremony attended by the Deputy Head of Mission Sweden, Anneli
Lindahl-Kenny, the British High Commissioner, H.E. Adam Wood, UNIFEM
Regional Programme Director (acting) Linet Miriti-Otieno, survivors of electoral
violence, women parliamentarians and aspirants and Anne
Wambaa, Commissioner, Electoral Commission of Kenya among others.
Electoral
violence meted on women during the election period sees many women drop out of
the political race. It disempowers women economically and psychologically and
also discourages many ‘would be aspirants’. ‘Tutakukatakata kichwa tuweke
kwa gunia natukutupe kwa dampsite’ (We will cut your head into pieces put it in
a sack and throw it in a dampsite), read one of the threatening text
messages received. At the launch, survivors of electoral violence shared
their harrowing and dehumanizing experiences at the mercy of their attackers.
Some aspirants were admitted in hospital to recuperate from injuries caused by
the attacks. They however vowed to continue to push forward regardless of the
challenges and called upon the president, members of parliament and political
parties to make peaceful elections a key ingredient of the election campaign
process.
Ms.
Orie Rogo Manduli a survivor of election violence sharing her experience. In
the background seated (L–R) Ms. Millicent Odhiambo (Executive Director CRADLE),
Linet Miriti-Otieno (UNIFEM acting Regional Programme Director), Anneli
Lindahl-Kenny (Deputy Head of Mission Sweden) , H.E. Adam Wood (British High
Commissioner), Dr. Margret Hutchinson (Executive Director ECWD)
“It
is very worrying that we see many acts of violence as the elections draw closer
and it is very important that the gender rapid response unit has been put
up” Anneli
Lindahl-Kenny remarked. “I call on the Kenyan women to take full benefit of
the resource” she continued. H.E Adam Wood added his voice to the
fight against gender based electoral violence saying “There is absolutely no
space for any violence and especially violence against women in the electoral
process. The best way to combat issues of electoral violence is by action
taken by the law enforcers”.
The
GRRU is an innovative and dynamic project that aims at providing rapid response
services to survivors of electoral violence to ensure that they find redress
and more importantly gradually reduce the incidences of electoral violence
against women to ensure their effective participation in politics. The GRRU
will provide referral services to the Police and Counselors, advocate and
sustain pressure for the arrest of perpetrators, raise awareness on gender
based violence through documentation of incidences of violence and provide
litigation services to survivors of violence. To achieve its objectives, the
GRRU will work closely with the Kenya Police, the Media and Electoral
Commission of Kenya.
UNIFEM
together with partners is committed to ending electoral violence against women
and is collaborating with the Electoral Commission of Kenya and the Police to
undertake security awareness training for women aspirants, their mobilisers and
agents as well as supporting the Gender Rapid Response Unit.
For
more information please contact:
Pamela
Tuiyott, Partnerships and Communications Officer,
UNIFEM
Regional Office for East and Horn of
Tel:
254 20 7624960 Email: pamela.tuiyott@unifem.org
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