Lamu County forms special group to fight GBV
Executive Director, Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri) Khelef Khalifa addressing members of the press in April 2020. The organisation is part of a special wing formed to fight rising cases of defilement and GBV in Lamu County.
What you need to know:
- Community-based organizations (CBOs) and government officials in Lamu County have formed a special wing to fight rising cases of child defilement and gender-based violence in the county.
- Lamu Technical Gender Sector Working Group brings together organisations including Muhuri, World Vision, and actors from national and county governments.
- Group will provide a platform for residents to report cases of GBV for prompt action.
Community-based organizations (CBOs) and government officials in Lamu County have formed a special wing to fight rising cases of defilement and gender-based violence (GBV) in the county.
Wing dubbed 'Lamu Technical Gender Sector Working Group' brings together organisations including Muslim for Human Rights (Muhuri), World Vision, and actors from national and county governments, including the office of the Lamu County Commissioner, probation offices and that of the Lamu Executive for Gender. It was launched at a Lamu hotel on Wednesday.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the initiative, Lamu branch Muhuri Field Officer Ummulkheir Ahmed, said the idea comes at a right time since there is a rise in GBV cases aggravated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Policy formulation
The group will provide a platform for residents to report cases of GBV for prompt action. It is also mandated to address policy formulation of gender issues in the county.
Ms Ahmed said the group will aid GBV survivors reach out for help in a more effective and efficient manner.
“We've been pushing for the creation of such a crucial platform through community dialogue forums that we've conducted in Hindi, Hongwe and Faza wards. We've also trained locals to enable them handle related cases. I believe with the newly formed group, GBV reporting will be easier," she said.
Rescue centres
County Director for Gender Peter Ng'ang'a, admitted that many cases of GBV in Lamu have been difficult to deal with due to kangaroo settlements, noting that most cases have remained unreported.
He cited lack of a rescue centre in the county as a key challenge in effectively addressing such issues.
"Lamu has been lacking a county gender sector working group. This has caused a lot of challenges in addressing gender-related issues in the county. We thank God that today we've formed one. The lack of rescue centres for victims of GBV is still a challenge. I will, therefore, follow up on this so that it's included in the supplementary budget by March, 2021 so that a rescue centre can be realised in Lamu," said Mr Ng'ang'a.
