Men have been urged to report cases of violence against them. [Photo/artmatters.info]
Kisumu County Director for Gender Affairs Jane Obiero has urged men to come out and report gender based violence cases propagated against them, especially by spouses.
Speaking on Friday shortly before leading a function to launch this year’s 16 international days of activism against gender based violence at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu, Obiero said most men are being beaten in homes but are not willing to come out and report.
“Gender based violence is not only a female issue. Men are being tortured in homes but fear reporting because of the stigma attached to it,” she said.
Obiero said that most police stations in the country have gender desks where any member of the society can report any form of gender based abuse and violence without being victimized.
She said they intend to use the next 16 international days of activism against gender based violence to sensitize members of the public in Kisumu, on the need of living in a gender based violence free society.
“We want Kisumu County to be gender based violence free so that nobody should fear beatings in the homes, defilement or rape. We want to make a safe space for everyone,” she said.
16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign aimed at challenging gender based violence. The campaign has been marked since 1991.
It runs every year from November 25th to December 10. November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, while December 10 is the Human Rights Day.
This year’s theme is “from peace in the homes to peace in the country: make education safe for all.”