Campaigns

What's Your stand? || Gender Justice

Kenya’s Ministry of Health says it receives an average of at least 5,000 sexual violence cases across the country, 65% of them involve girls younger than 18, many of whom live in poverty

It’s estimated that 14% of Kenyan women and 6% of men aged 15-49 have experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime

In many parts of Kenya, as in so many patriarchal societies, men and women are raised differently. This upbringing creates imbalances in the power relations between them. Most young men are socialized to be sexually adventurous and aggressive as a way to prove their masculinity. Girls are expected to be chaste, domesticated and compliant. Women and girls who deviate from these designated roles risk disapproval from community members as well as physical and sexual violence.

The common myths include: that rape is committed by a deviant and/or a stranger, that it is not that serious, that the man was provoked by the sexiness of the female, women mean yes when they say no, women are liars, and a man is entitled to the sex through marriage or purchase of gifts.

These attitudes place the blame on the victims, and don’t hold perpetrators accountable for their actions. And the victim’s credibility is questioned

What's YOUR stand is a campaign that seeks to raise awareness on rape, especially challenging men to state their stand and declare rape a human rights violation

The project seeks to sensitize communities against GBV, create conversations around the issue and provide safe spaces to survivors of GBV

Speak Up Campaign || Female Genital Mutilation

27% of women aged 15-49 in Kenya have undergone some form of FGM. This translates to ONE in FIVE girls, or approximately 4millions girls have forcefully undergone FGM

Despite the passage of an anti-FGM law in 2010, most communities in rural Kenya continue to carry the practice, with most of them creating new ways to escape the grips of the local authorities

Getting cut means an end to all types of opportunities for girls in Kenya. They drop from school. Get married. Endure lifelong health complications

Discussing sex and related topics such as FGM is still taboo in many Kenyan communities, especially among men. Moreover, men who speak against FGM can be seen as traitors, attacking a long-standing cultural practice.

Our activities provide girls with a second opportunity to regain their self confidence, establish their new roles as human rights advocates and provide them with safe spaces to enable them access physical and psychological support

Respect Her space || Online Violence

There are about 21.75 million internet users in Kenya, or 40 percent of the country's population, according to 2021 data by research firm DataReportal. Around 11 million of those use social media, an increase of 2.2 percent compared to 2020

As an online minority, women in Kenya are often targets of cyber bullying. And although in 2018 the country passed a law against cyber bullying — with penalties of up to 10 years in prison, mass online trolling still runs rampant

Social media has become an important tool for social and professional advancement for women. Many women have built their businesses online have learned how to connect with others in online spaces.

Many find clients to buy and sell their products online. Others find platforms to incubate ideas, leading to hundreds if not millions of social enterprises that not only spur economic growth but directly empower young men and women economically.

The law in Kenya is yet to catch up with technology. For example, the police only take physical violence seriously. Just because it's online does not make the violence any less harmful

Some women even leave the online platform after being harassed

Cyber bullying is a public health issue and the effects are very detrimental. It results in physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm, and erodes self-esteem.

Respect HER space is a campaign that seeks to protect online spaces, equip women with skills necessary to protect their digital footprints and empower them with knowledge to help them become social change makers in their communities

Breaking Barriers || GBV

We work with communities to develop programs that transform the root causes of gender inequality at many layers of society – from the individual to the institutional and at national levels

We believe that engaging men is an essential element of women’s empowerment so that benefits are brought to children, women and men themselves.

Our work involves creating safe spaces for couples, same sex groups and adolescents to discuss issues related to equality

We engage community gatekeepers to address norms and attitudes, working with influential members of the community such as village elders, religious leaders and grassroots networks