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{
"id": 1502830,
"url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1502830/?format=api",
"text_counter": 70,
"type": "speech",
"speaker_name": "Uasin Gishu County, UDA",
"speaker_title": "Hon. Gladys Boss",
"speaker": null,
"content": "intimate partner or a family member. That means an average of 140 women and girls worldwide die every day at the hands of their partners or close relatives. Closer to home, the statistical data provided by the report alarmingly reveals that Africa recorded the highest rates of intimate partner and family-related femicide. In addition, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) indicates that 45 per cent of women aged 15 to 49 years have experienced physical violence, and that the main perpetrators of such violence against women are husbands or intimate partners. I will repeat that statistic: 45 per cent of women aged between 15 and 49 years have experienced physical violence. This is attributed to the deeply rooted patriarchal systems within African societies that afford men undue authority over women in nearly every aspect of life; from politics to economics and social norms. Statistical data continues to show the prevalence of social intolerance for violence against women in Kenya, with 42 per cent of women and 36 per cent of men believing that a man can be justified for beating up his wife or partner under certain circumstances. This highlights the urgent need to address gender-based violence and femicide in Kenya through a comprehensive approach that includes legal reforms, social change, increased awareness and support services. We must all become champions of the campaign within political, religious and societal spheres to eradicate the negative social norms and attitudes that normalise gender- based violence. A home is known to be a place of refuge but approximately 80 per cent of femicides take place within the confines of a home, while 12 per cent of male homicides are perpetrated within a home. This, therefore, calls upon us to make our homes safe again for women and girls. Male leaders, particularly, must take up the role of ensuring such safety within their communities and to speak up against femicide. We need male voices. Despite progress made in recent years, significant obstacles continue to block the path of women leaders attaining parity with their male counterparts. A landmark survey by the Inter- Parliamentary Union (IPU) revealed that 82 per cent of women parliamentarians worldwide had been subjected to psychological violence in the form of sexist remarks, threats and harassment. Gender-based violence is not only physical. Technology-facilitated violence has also become the order of the day with social media as the main platform for this type of abuse, where women lawmakers have reported receiving death, rape, assault and abduction threats towards themselves and their families. Those acts produce another form of gender-based violence – psychological abuse. Chapter 4 of the Constitution, which is on the Bill of Rights, recognises the rights and fundamental freedoms of citizens, and guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination of any form, including sex. Furthermore, Article 27(3) of the Constitution provides that women and men have the right to equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in the political, economic, cultural and social spheres. Other legal frameworks include the Sexual Offences Act, Cap 63A; the Victims Protection Act, Cap 79A; the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation, Cap 62B; and the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, Cap 79C, which are laws that are in place to protect the various rights of women. Despite such a broad legislative framework, gender-based violence and femicide continue to be increasingly prevalent in our society. As we mark the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, I wish to implore my colleagues to be voices of awareness through recruiting local churches to be a voice against the same and persuading our schools to dedicate at least one hour per week to teach our children about this matter. As I conclude, allow me to use this platform to plead with my colleagues, including our male colleagues, to join this campaign. Thank you, Hon. Speaker."
}