The results in context
Preventing violence against women
Gender Based Violence (GBV) is one of the most widespread and socially tolerated forms of human rights violations, cutting across nationality, race, class, ethnicity and religion. It is a major source of inequality in Kenya today. It has a profound social and economic impact on families and communities. Kenya has robust policies and laws that seek to prevent and respond to GBV and is also a signatory to international and regional human rights frameworks that aim to prevent and respond to GBV. Through its international policy on women’s rights and gender equality, the Netherlands contributes to achieving the sustainable development goal (SDG 5) on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in particular. In 2018 - 2019, the Netherlands worked on women’s rights and gender equality through the Accountability Fund-supported Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) and United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), focusing mainly on preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls and improving economic conditions for women.
There has been increased gender sensitivity, responsiveness and co-ordination of GBV services by public authorities in Kilifi and Meru counties. Meru County adopted a county-level policy on sexual and gender-based violence, while a similar policy has been developed in Kilifi that is pending legislation before the county assembly. Gender departments have now been established, with the counties adopting a multi-sectoral operational framework for co-ordination, prevention of and response to Gender Based Violence. A total of 226 women and organisations were trained on policy advocacy and budget tracking. The women-led groups and community-based organisations played a key role in spearheading county gender mainstreaming and championing socio-economic empowerment.
Capacity strengthening of the Judiciary and Office of the Department of Public Prosecution (ODPP) has led to an improvement in access to justice and in courts delivering justice in sexual violence cases. Such cases are now being handled more expeditiously, adjournments have been reduced and processes between the prosecutors and investigating officers on producing evidence and securing witnesses is better co-ordinated. Interventions in the education sector have resulted in the strengthening of the capacity of 121 school administrators in targeted schools in Meru and Kilifi counties, to establish confidential reporting mechanisms that are safe and easily accessible. This enables teachers to report abuse.
Women taking advantage of economic influence opportunities
Through Amplifying Voices Of Women With Disabilities and United Disabled Persons of Kenya (UDPK), the capacity of 22 existing Disabled Persons Organisations (DPOs) has been enhanced by strengthening their organisational capacity. As a result, 1,842 women with disabilities were reached. The Netherlands also supported the promotion of enterprise development and economic empowerment for women and groups of people with disabilities, through the provision of funds for micro-saving ventures, with 20 grants being issued to 20 women’s DPOs. The allocated funds are geared towards the social and economic empowerment of women at the grassroots in the counties of the women’s accountability groups.