End Human rights violations along the beaches
By Caroline Katana
Unfortunately, human rights violations occur not only on land but also at sea, human trafficking, corruption, exploitation, and other illegal violations combined with a lack of policing and proper enforcement of international and national laws, is the deplorable reality of much ocean activity.
This ever-growing presence of human rights violations at the sea and the direct and indirect mistreatment of the ocean go hand in hand.
Whether it be in the form of illegal fishing or the forced fleeing of low–lying toll nations from sea level rise the ocean is overflowing with crime.
The lack of enforcement, regulation, and monitoring of the ocean is not a new theme, it has been a constant challenge to international and national bodies that hold some of the responsibility for ocean monitoring.
In addition, governments continue to ignore the responsibility to curb human rights violations along beaches.
For customary coastal communities, a violation of the ocean is a violation of their humanity.
How do we ensure that our approaches to ocean conservation do not exclude, criminalize, and further oppress the people whose lives are most intimately connected with the sea, and whose very identities are reliant upon a healthy ocean?
Let all of us who work to heal, defend, and restore ocean health stand in solidarity with these rightful ocean custodians.
Gender-based violence is a problem in any and every circumstance. The safety and security of women and girls on the swimming sites along Diani Beach is vital, especially as they go about their day -to –today swimming.
The roots of gender-based violence in Kenya can be located in the fabric of gender relations.
Speaking during a safety and security sensitization forum at Kongo beach, Kenya community support center officer, also a member of the ideological pillar Kwale county action plan, Mwalimu Rama said safety and security along the beach needs multi-stakeholders approach to curb SGBV cases along the beach.
“According to Kwale County report on SGBV are alarming, especially during this school holiday period where most children visit the beaches,” said Rama
Rama called upon parents to be more vigilant about their children’s rights and safety to ensure sustainable peace.
“I want to urge children to be fast in reporting SGBV cases for legal action, and I want to call upon the community to be good ambassadors to curb these cases,” he added
At the same time, he challenged beach operators and businessmen along the beach to protect the rights of tourists visiting the beach.
Rama called upon religious leaders to be at the forefront of spreading the powerful gospel of ending SGBV in their respective areas of worship.
“Religious leaders play a big role in creating the atmosphere in which SGBV flourishes and providing structures to make positive change in society,” he noted.
Samba Sports Youth Agenda CEO Mohammed Mwachausa said there must be consistent peace sensitization along the beaches and marketplaces where most criminals find their hiding.
“There have been reports of juvenile youths undermining peace especially in Diani and Ukunda areas which are posing a threat to tourism and trade in the areas, so there is a need to engage and educate more people to take responsibility for boosting peace and security,” said Mwachausa.
Mwachausa noted the need to put in place interventions that help communities in conflict areas to coexist with one another.
He added that the first step towards finding a solution to the abundant human rights abuses on the ocean is awareness.
Sauti ya Wanawake Matuga chapter chair lady Mwanakombo Jarumani stated that safety and security measures are crucial for attracting and retaining tourists.
Top 5 safest countries in Africa to visit in 2024 on vacation
Exploring Africa is an enchanting and rewarding experience, offering gorgeous landscapes, fascinating cultures, and wildlife encounters.
However, travel involves some security risks which you can easily avoid with simple research, fortunately, there is a good list of the safest countries in Africa tourists can visit trouble-free.
- Seychelles
It has always been a go-to destination for travelers seeking a safe and secure vacation. It is regarded as one of the fastest countries to visit in Africa and tourists breathe easy without worrying about crime.
- Rwanda
Rwanda has a unique adventure into the tropical rainforest to encounter endangered mountain gorillas in their natural habitat.
- Tanzania
The country’s professional safari industry guarantees an unforgettable experience for visitors. Tanzania is one the safest African countries to visit especially outside urban areas on safari
- Botswana
Botswana’s wildlife attractions are in remote places with very few tourists. There’s hardly any corruption and the tourism stuff is well set up.
- Kenya
Kenya’s safari industry is one of the oldest and most established in Africa, providing visitors with an excellent infrastructure to explore the country conveniently. The country is known to be a safe destination, attracting a huge percentage of African safari tourists each year.
Even though most tourist areas have low crime rates, it is important to maintain vigilance, particularly in cities like Nairobi.
