Machakos women representative Dr Susan Musyoka has called on the government to incorporate issues of gender-based violence in the education’s curriculum.
Speaking at a GBV public sensitization meeting at Kyumvi town in Mavoko sub-county on Thursday, Musyoka said this will help in eliminating the vice among communities.
“Various forms of gender-based violence are deeply rooted in our communities, they should be incorporated in the curriculum alongside issues of sexuality so as to help fight the vices right from early stages,” said Musyoka.
Musyoka said if the education is provided in schools, children both boys and girls who are the most vulnerable to gender-based violence will be able to take good care of themselves.
“Children should know where to report in case of falling victims of gender-based violence whether, in school, home or elsewhere, victims should neither be ridiculed nor intimidated,” said Musyoka.
She said those handling cases of gender-based violence should be sensitive and adhere to provisions of laws such as the Victims Protection Bill and Sexual Offences Act.
Musyoka said teachers should be at forefront in the war against gender-based violence especially in schools by being responsive, “reported cases should be handled as emergencies, should not be mixed up with others,” she said.
She said Machakos County is among those with high cases of GBV in the country citing a Federation of Kenya Women Lawyers (FIDA) Report of 2012 which indicates that Mutituni village in Mumbuni Ward within the county was in the lead on the vice.
“People should be aware of their constitutional rights and the need to always protect one another at all times especially the women and children who are the most vulnerable in the society,” said Musyoki.
Musyoka said the county was marred with domestic violence, sexual harassment, wife and women battering, rape and defilement.
She blamed high poverty levels among most of the families in the region, drug and substance abuse, illiteracy and ignorance of the community on the high gender based violence rates.
Musyoka urged the residents to come up and join the war against the practice by condemning culprits and exposing them for law to take its course.
“Some of you especially men fear speaking out if they are battered by their wives hence end up suffering silently, silence fuels gender-based violence. Such fears will be effectively gotten rid of if our children are empowered on these issues at early stages,” said Musyoka.
Musyoka, however, called on men and youth to come up and support women in campaigns against gender-based violence arguing majority of men were reluctant about the war against the malpractice in the society, “preach peace, involve both men and women in society developments,” she said.
She said people should not wait for gender-based violence to happen so as to seek help from police, hospitals or lawyers but should instead unite to eliminate the illicit acts.
The legislature urged the residents to embrace dialogue in settling family feuds especially among couples asserting violence should never happen in our homes.