8/8/2019 GBV in post-election Kenya

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Detailing the ndings of the rapidassessment of gender-based violence(GBV) suered in camps,1 the UN

Population Fund (UNFPA), the UNChildren’s Fund (UNICEF) and theChristian Children’s Fund (CCF) saidthe women had repeatedly expressedfears of sexual violence because of

makeshi sleeping arrangements,where men and women wereforced to sleep under one tent orout in the open. They also voicedconcerns about lack of regulations

in the camps, allowing men fromthe outside to enter unchecked by camp ocials. In Nairobi inparticular, women reported fearsabout sexual victimisation linked tocamp design and services, includinglighting, water/sanitation facilities,and availability of rewood.

The assessment was conducted inNorth Ri Valley, South Ri Valley,the Coastal Region, Nairobi andCentral Province. It examined thenature and scope of sexual violenceduring ight, as well as withinthe IDP camps and alternativeselements. The assessment alsoevaluated the capacity of both

community- and camp-basedprogrammes to prevent and respondto cases of sexual violence.

The agencies said the exact numberof cases of sexual assault in IDPcamps was dicult to ascertain,not only because the camps lacked

standardised reporting mechanisms, but also because of challengesassociated with acknowledgingvictimisation. These include theavailability of services, the level of

awareness about the valueof medical assistance, thedegree of trust in policeand other security-relatedissues, as well as thecultural acceptability ofdisclosing rape.

The preliminary ndingsof this assessment conrminitial reports fromNairobi-based hospitalsthat sexual violence hasincreased during thepost-election crisis that began on 30 December2007. Evidence suggeststhat perpetrators areexploiting the conict by commiing sexualviolence with impunity,and eorts to protect or

respond to the needs ofwomen and girls are remarkablyinsucient. The report notes thatsexual violence not only occurred asa by-product of the collapse in socialorder during the post-election period but was also being used as a tool toterrorise individuals and familiesand precipitate their expulsion fromthe communities in which they live.

The agencies made severalrecommendations aimed at protectingyoung girls and women from GBV.Camp-based and community- based measures would help deliverminimum interventions to preventand respond to sexual violenceduring emergency response. They

would also shi humanitarianinterventions to national governmentand non-government structures tofacilitate the move from humanitarianto development actions as IDPsreturn home in some areas and totransitional selements in others.The report’s recommendationsinclude:

providing support to the relevantgovernment ministries andinstitutions to integrate prevention

of GBV and gender equalityconcerns into their emergencyplans of action and improvetheir capacity to address theproblem of sexual violence

introducing coordinationmechanisms for prevention andresponse programming at theprovincial and district levels

training camp-based sta in GBVprevention and response standards

ensuring sucient police presencein the camps, including femalepolice, and allocation of technicaland nancial resources to securitypersonnel to address violenceagainst women and girls

improving multi-sectoralprevention and response to GBVat the community level, throughsustained support to sectors suchas health, legal/justice, securityand psychosocial, with a special

focus on gaps such as availabilityof forensic examiners, legal aidservices and judicial response

conducting widespreadcommunity education aimedat prevention and ensuringsurvivors know how andwhere to access services.

 Jane Some (  Jane@irinnews.or  g  )works for IRIN, the humanitariannews and analysis service of theUN Oce for the Coordination of  Humanitarian Aairs. IRIN’s IDP/ refugee coverage page is at www.irinnews.org/Theme.aspx?Theme=RE F 

1. The full report is online at www.ohchr.org/Documents/Press/OHCHRKenyareport.pdf

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GBv IN POST-ElECTION KENYA

People

displaced by

post-election

violence,

Nairobi,

Kenya.

   I   R   I   N   /   J  u   l   i  u   s   M  w   e   l  u

An assessment by three agencies has found that the risk of

rape and sexua abuse remains high for thousands of young

girs and women dispaced by Kenya’s post-eection crisis.

GBv in post-eection KenyaJane Some