Gender and children’s right officer Salma Hemed. (Photo/Maxwell)
Haki Africa’s gender and rights children’s officer Salma Hemed has asked Coast counties to use existing laws in fighting gender-based violence in their counties.
Salma said that the issue should involve all relevant parties and the counties as well so that it can be contained and especially in rural areas.
Speaking at a gender forum in Mombasa on Tuesday morning, Salma said that gender-based violence was an issue coastal counties are yet to get fully involved in despite facing the problems.
Salma said that the counties through the social department should use the already existing laws and fight gender-based violence in the counties.
She said that if need be, then the County assemblies can as well come up with other laws which will help in the fight against gender-based violence especially in the rural areas.
“Counties should fully support our initiative and join in the fight against gender-based violence in the region, they have the capacity to make the fight a success” added Salma.
Salma urged men to be in the forefront in ensuring violence against women and children in the region is completely contained.
“We want to see men joining us in the fight against this problem, by doing so the community will see the magnitude of the problem and deter from denying women and children their rights,” said the gender and children’s rights activist.
Salma also challenged women politicians and specifically the Women representative in all the six Coastal counties of Taita Taveta, Kwale, Mombasa, Kilifi, Tana River and Lamu to fully focus on how to curb gender-based violence among the Coastal community.