Pawa initiative programme officer Shittemy Khamadi at a past event. [Photo/Maxwell Ngala].
Men in the Coast region have been challenged to spearhead the fight against gender-based violence.Pawa Initiative, a youth and gender-based NGO, has noted that despite men being accused of being the perpetrators of the violence, they normally shy away from the problem instead of speaking up against it.Pawa initiative programme officer Shittemy Khamadi said the organisation which is also known as Pawa 254, is conducting awareness campaigns in the region with an aim of ensuring men champion for the rights of women and children.Khamadi said if men responsibly take charge and protect women and children from abuse, gender-based violence at the Coast will be a thing of the past.“We will only succeed in this noble initiative if men and women work towards containing the vice,” said Khamadi.He pointed out Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi as the areas where the organisation is keen in ensuring there is collective responsibility in ensuring the vice is curbed.“Gender rights are mostly flouted by men. We need men to speak out against such issues such as early and forced marriages as well as denying the girl child education are issues. Men should always strive to protect the women and girls in their lives,” said Khamadi.He called on other gender and human rights defenders at the Coast to join hands in ensuring cases of violence against women and children are reported to the relevant authorities for action.“We encourage not only reporting the vices to the police but also making proper follow-ups so that victims get justice,” he added.Khamadi appealed to the police to ensure the gender desks in all police station at the Coast remain active and assist victims of gender-based violence.