By Reporter
A German non-profit organization Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevölkerung (DSW) in partnership with Sauti Ya Wanawake, a coastal-based women’s affairs NGO have organized a two-day forum to reflect on the achievement of a Connect A Girl project in Kwale County.
The conference was held at Diani Reef Hotel in Ukunda bringing together various stakeholders to appreciate the impact of the project on the lives of girls and the entire community as the program comes to an end.
Connect A Girl project was launched in 2022 targeting to promote sexual and reproductive health, address gender-based violence and support women and girls empowerment.
It targeted rural women and girls btn 0-17 years and 18-21 years.
DSW project officer Stephene Kibindio said the program was also focused don increasing the capacity of women and girls to influence the development and implementation of SGBV policies and enhance the uptake of policy solutions from women and girls in Kwale.
He said about 35 adolescent and youth champions were trained in advocacy.
He said the training enhanced the adolescent and youth champions on policy analysis and better engagement with policies during public hearings.
Kibindio said following the training, 10 champions participated in public participation at the ward level to voice their peers’ proposals (ASKs) on the Kwale SGBV Protection Bill 2023.
He said the youth engagement in the public participation forum on the bill led to the adoption of clear reporting and referral systems for victims and witnesses of SGBV and eradicating conditions that worsen SGBV by promoting access to justice for victims and survivors.
Kibindio said DSW together with Sauti ya wanawake and the Collaborative Center for Gender and Development supported the county assembly consensus initiate meeting to orient the MCAs on the provisions of the bill to fasten the debates once the bill is tabled for a second reading on the county assembly floor.
Currently, the gender bill is already signed into law and is yet to be implemented.
Kibindio said the Gender Act is important since it provides a legal framework for the protection of GBV victims.
“The Act seeks to establish an SGBV board that shall spearhead the development of policies they shall establish interventions to be implemented in the county,” he said.
He said the policy calls for the establishment of SGBV recovery Centers in in all county and sub-county referral hospitals within Kwale where victims access medical, security, legal and psychosocial services in a one-stop centre.
During the forum, various key stakeholders hailed the program for reducing cases of GBV, especially teen pregnancies.
County Adolescent and Youth Health Coordinator Mohammed Mwachakure said the project boosted county efforts in ending GBV vices.
He said women and girls are properly empowered in advocacy, policy-making, budget-making processes, public participation and rights protection as far as GBV is concerned.
County Gender officer Nelly Amoite said they will continue to work with more partners for effective implementation of the gender and curb GBV cases in the region.
