‘1,700 women beaten by husbands this year’

A report by a US humanitarian organisation operating in Taita Taveta shows 1,767 women have been beaten by their husbands this year.

Presenting the report on gender-based violence during a women's conference organised by the county administration in Voi on Saturday, ActionAid Manager Rosemary Migiro said 851 women had also been sexually harassed and a total of 677 sexually abused.

There were also 404 cases of incest and 591 defilement cases reported in the region, said Ms Migiro.

She said a recent study revealed 49 per cent of women had experienced gender-based violence and more than 60 per cent of them did not report the cases to relevant authorities.