JUSTIFY INSTEAD OF JUSTICE; The horror that is (GBV)

By; Mueni Abigail

As I sat down to watch 9: PM news and scroll through social media on a Wednesday night I was so heartbroken by what I was seeing, Rape Culture! It has been normalized everywhere, locally and internationally, mothers will sit silent as their sons and daughters are ripped of their innocence, by the people that should be bringing them up, fathers, uncles even grandparents what madness is this, before you come at me for being a “feminist” as much as there are cases of sodomy most cases revolve around the female gender, but below is an example of how not only girls go through sexual assault The government is definitely not doing enough to solve this pandemic, is what I would say if I were naïve and uninformed citizen, but the problem is deeply rooted, take for instance

· A house help in Shanzu, Mombasa County has been handed life imprisonment after being found guilty of defiling a four-year-old and filming the act. Read more at: https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/local/edda-wakesho-handed-life-imprisonment-for-abusing-four-year-old-in-mombasa/z6k2s25

· Kericho Man Jailed 60 Years For Defiling Granddaughter Read more at: https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/kericho-man-to-serve-60-years-in-jail-for-defiling-granddaughter/

· Erastus Kariuki confessed that he indeed defiled a 2-year-old child claiming it was an evil spirit that entered his body which made him commit the crime Read more at: https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2022-07-21-man-who-defiled-2-year-old-girl-in-church-jailed-for-45-years/

· Sheila Lumumba was brutally murdered in their flat in Karatina in April 2022 simply because of her sexuality. Her body was discovered having been stabbed severally, bludgeoned, and sexually assaulted in a place they had presumed was safe—their home.

Read more at: https://www.theelephant.info/reflections/2022/05/27/will-we-in-kenya-ever-respect-each-others-bodies-lives-and-rights

· Catherine Meng’anyi, from Kenya, is an FGM Survivor, nurse, and advocate she shares how she’s working to end female genital mutilation in her lifetime

Read more at:

https://www.who.int/news-room/feature-stories/detail/survivor-nurse-advocate-shares-how-she-s-working-to-end-fgm-in-her-lifetime

· Sometimes people don’t even know when they are being sexually assaulted, how house helps introduce kids to sexual activities

Read more at:

https://youtu.be/qlVPBU_5yr8

These are just a few cases of sexual assault to show how serious the issue is. It is essential to recognize the link between GBV and HIV and to work to prevent both. This may involve improving access to HIV testing and treatment services and addressing the root causes of GBV, such as gender inequality and discrimination. By addressing these issues, we can help reduce the number of young people affected by HIV and ensure that everyone has access to the care and support they need. If we as a society would probably purpose to deal with such issues, we would most likely have fewer inhuman reports

Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to any act of violence that is committed against someone based on their gender identity or perceived gender. This type of violence can take many forms, including physical, sexual, psychological, and economic abuse. It affects people of all genders, but women and girls are often the primary victims.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of young people who are being affected by HIV. While the reasons for this increase are complex and varied, GBV is known to be a major contributing factor. When young people, particularly young, women, and girls, experience GBV, they may be more vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This can be due to a variety of reasons, including:

· Physical injury: When a young person experiences GBV, they may suffer physical injuries, including genital injury. These injuries can increase the risk of HIV transmission.

· Forced sex: When young people are forced to have sex, they may not have the power to negotiate safer sex practices, such as using condoms. This can increase their risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

· Stigma and discrimination: Young people who experience GBV may face stigma and discrimination, which can prevent them from accessing HIV testing and treatment services. This can lead to an increase in HIV transmission and a decrease in access to life-saving services.

Most rape cases are never reported, why? Fear of stigma, humiliation, retaliation by their rapist, and justice has just become rare in this country that it might take a while for such a case to be dealt with. Other than physical effects there is an increase in mental cases caused by GBV it is heartbreaking, depression, suicide and PTSD, anxiety, and the fact that it messes with one physically spiritually, and emotionally. It is important to note that ending gender-based violence and rape culture requires a long-term, sustained effort that involves multiple sectors, including governments, civil society organizations, and the international community. Dealing with gender-based violence and rape culture requires a multi-faceted approach this can be done by;

· Education and Awareness: Providing education on healthy relationships, consent, and gender equality can help change cultural attitudes and norms that support violence.

· Legal action: Strengthening laws and ensuring that perpetrators of sexual violence are held accountable can send a message that such behavior will not be tolerated.

· Support for survivors: Providing comprehensive support, including medical and psychological care, to survivors of sexual violence is essential for their recovery and healing.

· Challenging Rape Culture: Rape culture refers to cultural attitudes and norms that normalize or trivialize sexual violence. Challenging and changing these attitudes requires a collective effort that involves the media, popular culture, and the general public.

· Addressing root causes: Addressing factors such as toxic masculinity, gender inequality, and unequal power dynamics, can help reduce the prevalence of sexual violence.