Mrs Elizabeth Ongwae has called for an integrated approach towards campaigns against gender based violence.
Speaking on Wednesday when she flagged off the commencement of the 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) at Kisii Cultural Hall, Mrs Ongwae said it was important for everyone to join hands and fight the vice.
“Elimination of gender based violence is very close to my heart. I call upon Kisii residents to join hands as we fight to eradicate it. I will ensure mass mobilisation of all communities to promote collective responsibility in the fight to eradicate this scourge in our community,” she added.
Mrs Ongwae first met Kisii University Vice Chancellor Prof John Akama where a petition for the 16 days of activism to end the scourge was signed.
She said that it was critical to start the event from the University in line with this year’s theme of “Making Education Safe for all”.
“Violence against women, men, the youth and children is not a government responsibility but an issue that all of us have to take into consideration. Let us be proactive as we seek to make Kisii County a gender violence free zone,” she added.
Prof Akama said that there was need to also address issues of GBV.
Kisii University has set up a gender policy that protects its students from the vice.
The University's head of Gender Studies Dr Callen Nyamwange called on residents to address issues of child labour which she said were part of GBV.
The year 2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive road map to gender equality.
World leaders met in March at the United Nations' 59th Commission on the Status of Women and in September at the 70th General Assembly to take stock of the progress made and commit to take action to close the gaps that are holding women and girls back.
This year, a new sustainable development agenda, which for the first time includes specific targets and indicators on ending violence against women, also replaced the Millennium Development Goals.