WUNRN
The Coexist
Initiative is a national
network of men and boys organizations focusing on eliminating all forms
of violence against women and girls in Kenya.
Tena Landmark House, 2nd Floor, Suite #2,
Outering Rd.
Off Jogoo Rd.
P.O. Box 281-00515, Nairobi – Kenya
Telephone: +254-20-2099201
| +254-712653322
Email: info@coexistkenya.com
Website: www.coexistkenya.com
Theme
From
Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let's Challenge Militarism and End
Violence Against Women!
Digo women taking
an oath never to raise a finger against a man in Kaya (holy shrine)
Kinondo on the
Southern Coast of Kenya. Picture of Coexist Initiative 2009
Campaign Leader - Wanjala Wafula
Programs Director - Coexist Initiative
Email: wafula@coexistkenya.com
Preamble
|
T |
he 2011
sixteen (16) days of activism is to be marked at a time when women and girls in Kenya are perpetually susceptible as cruelty
remains persistent in all layers of society. Violence against women and girls
in Kenya as it is in other parts of the world is an aftermath of profound social systems
that advance and proliferate it. Attitudes that generate traditions of terror
and encourage the use of violence as enshrined in patriarchy, negative
masculinity and the entire negative socialization process remain ever present.
Kenya is a country that still supports military interventions for settling
disputes as the Wagalla and the Mt Elgon massacres remain fresh in the minds of
social pundits. We are a nation that is swiftly turning to organized criminal
gangs like the Mungiki, Zungu Zungu and the Baghdad boys to enforce economic
and political interests as was demonstrated during the 2007 post election
violence and the resultant International Criminal Court (ICC) case against
Kenya that is ongoing. We are a nation where political violence against women and girls characterizes every election
since 1997 with the 2007 post election violence having claimed the lives of
5,000 persons mostly women and children.
Brutal expressions of masculinity remain
widespread with a 2010 Future Concern report revealing that violence against women affects one in three
women in Kenya[1][1]. A current World Bank report affirms that women between the ages of 15
and 44 in Kenya are at a greater risk of rape or violence than cancer, malaria,
war or car accidents.
Experts continue to caution that manifestations of militaristic affinities in
the Kenyan society translates into severe consequences for the true protection
and safety of women and of men who do not conform to these roles and of the
Kenyan society as a whole.
While many argue that
there is need to bring together women, peace, and human rights movements to
challenge militarism in Kenya, we submit that the targeting and mobilizing of
men and boys as partners in eliminating militarism is the missing link we wish
to address. Men and boys are the custodians of the social structures that allow violence
and discrimination to continue. While key instruments that guarantee the safety
and security of women including the new constitution exist in Kenya, levels of
violence against women continue to raise hence confirming our resolve to
target men and boys as key stakeholders in eliminating violence against women
and girls.
It is worth noting
that rape
continues to be used as a tactic of war to drive fear and to humiliate or
punish women and their communities. Sexual violence is widespread in conflict
zones in Kenya including the cattle rustling prone areas of Turkana, Kuria,
Baringo, Mandera and Wajir. Gang brawls in informal settlements in urban centre
are becoming bloodier each day and the targeting of women and children is a
worrying trend. Abductions and kidnappings are on the increase with the recent
police report confirming that more than ten kidnappings take place each day and
that women and children are the most targeted. Violence against women in Kenya is also as a result of the availability of
small arms thanks to its proximity to war ravaged Somalia, Northern Uganda, and
Southern Sudan (now independent).
In a nutshell, masculine construction requires
manhood to be equated with the ability to exert power over others, especially
through the use of force. Masculinity, as it is espoused, gives man power to
control the lives of those around him, especially women. For us at Coexist, the
2011 sixteen (16) days of activism is about working with men and boys as key
partners in the fight against gender based violence and other human rights issues at the local
and national level. Its time for us to develop and share new and effective
strategies of engaging men and boys as principle partners in eliminating gender
based violence. It’s time to demonstrate solidarity with women and girls around
the country. As men, this year’s campaign is about men and boys breaking out of
the portrayal of gender-based violence as a women’s struggle only, where almost
the only role available to (all) men is that of perpetrator or policeman. Men
and boys have to embrace there role as advocates against violence which is
firstly a human rights violation.
Campaign objectives
- To mobilize and build the
capacities and competencies of men and boys about sexual/gender-based
violence and constructively engage them in efforts to eliminate the vice
- To strengthen local work around
working with men and boys in eradicating violence against women
- To show solidarity with women
by solidifying partnerships with men and women in organizing against
violence against women
- To develop tools and resources
around what works towards engaging men and boys in eliminating
sexual/gender based violence.
- To demand and pressure the
Kenyan government to actualize the entitlements of women guaranteed in the
just passed new constitution and the accompanying local and international
instruments.
Additional Campaign Information:info@coexistkenya.com