A significant gender-based violence (GBV) meeting was held in Siaya on Thursday 22 May 2025 to address the critical GBV issue in the country as well as face the challenges of reporting of GBV cases.
The meeting was chaired by CECM in-charge of Education, Youth Affairs, Gender and Social Services, Dr. Edgar Otumba and members of the technical working group on GBV and femicide, team leader Rosalina Chelimo and researcher Irine Wafula.
The main agenda was the understanding of why many gender related violence cases are not being reported and how we can completely improve the reporting structure.
Discussions highlighted different types of gender based violence – defilement, rape and physical and mental assault. The next main challenge identified was wide-spread stigmatization that discourages victims from reporting.
The group also recognized that the reporting system itself is poorly structured, inadequate and that complicates matters GBV even more.
Gender-based violence was recognized as influenced mostly by cultural factors that makes it difficult to support victims. The meeting also delved into the reason why low-reporting rates are experienced.
These included the ability of offenders to use financial power to intimidate or silence victims, the drug tendency of offenders and a general lack of adequate information on where and how the victims should report the GBV crimes.
The team emphasized the urgent need to enhance the reporting framework and to create greater awareness in communities to reduce stigmatization. They committed to developing strategies that encourage victims to report abuse and to breaking down cultural barriers that allow gender-based violence to persist.
This meeting marked an important step towards improving support systems for survivors and ensuring justice is served.
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