Integrating men in the fight against gender based violence:the case of Kibera division, Nairobi

Abstract

The study looks into how men can be integrated into the fight against gender based violence. It was inspired by the fact that gender based violence is a world- wide concern that affects people from all ages, races, economic and socio-cultural backgrounds. Further, whereas men make the bulk of perpetrators, women make the bulk of recipients of gender based violence. It took place in Kibera Division of Nairobi province. A total of 45 respondents took part in the study. Of these, 39 took part in the questionnaire survey while 6 were key informants. The researcher sought to explore perceptions of gender based violence, its causes and consequences, the strategies in place to fight it and the role men can play in the fight against it. The study found out that indeed perceptions of gender based violence are varied as they may be influenced by an individual's culture, traits, beliefs and attitudes. Possible causes of the vice may be socialization, substance abuse, poverty and personal traits such as age and sex. Its forms and manifestations are varied but not mutually exclusive. They may be physical, emotional, psychological, economical, sexual or even social. Currently, there are several redress options available to victims of gender based violence. They include seeking counseling and support from friends and family, medical attention, police intervention and taking legal action. However, it is not always easy to access these redress options due to familial, cultural, institutional or self directed obstacles. It is with this understanding, that the sfudy recommends that men should be actively involved in the fight against gender based violence. This can be achieved through aggressive nation- wide awareness creation campaigns to educate all people"on gender based violence and its effects to individual, families, communities and the country at large. There is also need for political goodwill to create acts, policies. and programs that fight the vice and implement them as effectively as possible. This may include the creation of a new police unit that deals exclusively with cases of gender based violence. In addition, government hospitals should be provided with HIV/AIDS and STD prophylaxis drugs and Anti-retrovirals to give to those in need, especially victims of sexual violence. Moreover, medical services to victims of sexual violence should be free of charge. A gender based violence free world can be realized ifboth men and women are actively involved in this fight.