Forum for Women urge communities to report SGBV cases

By Obegi Malack

Community Based Organization, Forum for Women in Development, Democracy and Justice (FODDAJ) in marking 16 days of activism against Sexual and Gender Based violence (SGBV) held successful workshops with women groups from Nkaimurunya Ward sensitizing them on (SGBV) which is rampant in the area.

The organization FODDAJ Project Coordinator Julian Nekesa said many women are suffering since they do not report cases of gender based violence; she challenged the women who attended the meeting from Kware slum and Gataka Centre to come out and report such cases for action to be taken.
Speaking at another Public awareness Forum at Gataka the Programs Director Nancy Sitima urged women to form whistle blower support groups to enhance information sharing and protect each other when such cases occur , adding that most perpetrators have continued harming women and children because they do not report them. The organization has been sensitizing women on how to respond to cases of SGBV such as defilement, female genital mutilation, rape, early marriage and domestic violence. It also donated gift packs and basic food items to the women who attended the meeting.
Julian Nekesa said when SGBVs cases occur women should seek lifesaving emergency medical attention to receive PREP, emergency contraceptives and Tetanus medication to prevent life-threatening infections. This should be done before reporting to law enforcers in order to preserve crucial evidence and get a credible doctors report. She also urged women to investigate domestic workers before employing them , she cited a case whereby a domestic worker transmitted HIV/AIDS to employer’s child through breastfeeding her.

Kware assistant chief Esther Njeri challenged the women to report cases of domestic violence; she said women should move out from such marriages since they sometimes cause death, such cases also affect children most of them become violent later in life.
Abraham Liona a local leader also pledged to work with FODDAJ to reach out to county officials.
The GBV Program by Forum for Women is sponsored by The International Rescue Committee a global humanitarian aid, relief, and development nongovernmental organization.
The CBO has been Training Community Leaders and Health Institutions on GBV Emergency Response. It has also done public education and sensitized the communities on how to prevent and respond to cases of SGBV. It has also trained health care workers to handle such cases.
This has drastically reduced cases of SGBV in Kajiado County and around the country.