MAKUENI HOSTS NATIONAL LAUNCH OF 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE

Makueni County is hosting the 2024 National Launch of 16 Days of campaign against Gender-Based Violence.

The global campaign, observed annually from November 25 to December 10, aims to raise awareness and oppose violence against women and children.

The event is graced by among others:Principal Secretary for Parliamentary Affairs Aurelia Rono, Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action Ann Wangombe, Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Nairobi County MP Esther Passaris, Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo and County MP Rose Museo.

As the World begins marking 16 days of fight against all forms of Gender-Based Violence, Makueni County has made strides in this fight through:

1. Development of key policies namely; Makueni County Sexual and Gender Based Violence policy, Makueni County Gender Policy, Makueni County Children Policy, Makueni County Sexual harassment at Workplace Policy, Makueni County Social Protection Policy and Makueni County Disability Policy,

2. Established a Makueni Gender Based Violence Recovery Centre at the Wote Level 5 hospital. The recovery center provides support to survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and their families through the provision of comprehensive free medical treatment and psychosocial support to survivors of physical, sexual, emotional or psychological abuse;

3. Established an emergency safe shelter in one of the health centres with a 14-bed capacity each (8 for women and 6 for men) for short term placement of most vulnerable survivors of GBV;

4. Signed a 5-year MOU with Gender Violence Recovery Centre of Nairobi Womens hospital- to ensure prevention, reporting and quick response to GBV in Makueni;

5. Signed a 3-year MOU with Equality Now-Africa-to promote response, prevention and management of all forms of GBV in Makueni;

6. Organized safe spaces forums and children conferences targeting children between the ages of 10-17 years where 7,280 out of which 4,049 girls and 3,231 boys were empowered;

7. Developed walking galleries and gallery cards with children voices to enhance awareness on child protection;

8. Developed a duty bearers booklet and a children booklet on child protection and the need for creation of safe spaces;

9. Organized roadshows in all the major markets across the county to sensitize and create awareness on GBV;

10. Established and trained community-based child protection committees across the county that comprise of sub county administrators, social development officers, OCS, ECDE coordinator, volunteer children officers and children coordinators.