WUNRN
Also Via SVRI - Sexual Violence
Research Initiative
KENYA - ONE-THIRD OF GIRLS SUBJECTED
TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE - SURVEY
A girl walks along a
street in the sprawling Kibera slum, home to about 1 million people, in
Three quarters of Kenyan
children experience physical, sexual or emotional violence, according to the
findings of the first nationwide household survey of more than 3,000 young
people aged 13 to 24.
“The survey results depict a
sobering picture of pervasive and insidious violence that afflicts the entire
country,” Naomi Shaban, minister of gender, children and social development,
said at the launch of the Violence Against Children Survey.
Sexual violence – defined as
sexual touching or attempted sex against the child’s will or coerced or forced
sex – was experienced by 32 percent of Kenyan girls and 18 percent of boys
before the age of 18.
This figure is much higher than
that of the government’s 2008/9 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey which found
that one in five women and girls are victims of sexual violence.
Rape is rarely reported in
The survey found that the most
common perpetrators were boyfriends or girlfriends, followed by neighbours and
family members. One in three girls who were raped became pregnant as a result.
Only three percent of sexually abused girls received professional help.
There was a clear correlation
between experience of sexual violence and engagement in risky sexual behaviour.
Girls who were victims of unwanted touching or rape were four times as likely
as other girls to have multiple sexual partners.
Physical violence – defined as
punching, kicking, whipping or being threatened with a weapon – was most widely
experienced. Almost six out of 10 children had been physically abused by an
authority figure, most commonly teachers.
More than half the respondents
had experienced physical violence at the hands of relatives.
MAJORITY CONDONE VIOLENCE
Most disturbing among the
findings was that the majority of children accepted violence in the home as
normal, particularly if they themselves had experienced it.
“Much of violence against
children… remains hidden and at times is socially approved or acceptable. That
is very sad,” said Franklin Esipila, permanent secretary in the ministry of
gender, children and social development.
Among girls aged 18 to 24, 49
percent condoned violence by a husband towards his wife. This increased to 56
percent among girls who had experienced childhood violence.
Unsurprisingly, the figures for
boys were even worse. There was 62 percent approval of domestic violence among
boys aged 18 to 24 who had not been abused, rising to 65 percent among those
who had experienced violence themselves.
“These attitudes must change in
order to help mitigate the occurrence of domestic violence, both against women
and against children,” the report said. “This remains the single greatest area
for policy reform at the national level.”
Other social attitudes and
practices that justify violence against children identified by the survey
include the use of violence as a form of discipline, child labour, female
genital mutilation, forced marriage, prejudice against disabled children,
family breakdown, homophobia and the myth that sex with virgins can cure
HIV/AIDS.
VIOLENCE PERPETUATES POVERTY
A 2006 U.N. report found that
14 percent of girls and seven percent of boys around the world experience
sexual violence.
“Violence breeds violence,” it
said. “In later life, child victims of violence are more likely to be victims
or perpetrators themselves.”
It also found that violence
perpetuates poverty, illiteracy and early death.
“The physical, emotional and
psychological scars of violence rob children of their chance to fulfil their
potential,” the report said. “Ending violence will increase opportunities
for development and growth.”
The Kenyan government said it
plans to set up child protection centres, staffed by social welfare officers,
across the country to help abused children.
The survey found that just one
in four girls and one in eight boys knew where to get help after they were
sexually abused.
Childline