Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread and devastating human rights violations.
Covid-19 lockdowns and disruptions to significant services further increased women's exposure to violence.
Violence manifests in physical, sexual and psychological forms. These include battering, psychological abuse, marital rape and femicide.
The truth is, male-dominated societies exist. Just because you are a woman, you are expected to be submissive to all the rules and regulations put in place by the husband.
READ MORE
This Mother's Day, create safe spaces for women to speak out on SGBV
'Insensitive': Gender CS sparks backlash with anniversary post amid femicide crisis
Wave of killings fuels femicide emergency calls
What is hantavirus, the disease that has killed 3 cruise ship passengers?
Sexual violence and harassment, including rape, forced sexual acts, unwanted sexual advances, child sexual abuse, forced marriages, stalking and cyber harassment are the barriers alongside their lifetime. Human trafficking, including slavery and sexual exploitation, also promotes violence against women and girls.
Female genital mutilation is one of the challenges most countries are trying to do away with.
The future of young girls is damaged after forced marriages.
Data collection mechanisms that can improve life-saving services for women and girls should be put in place to help eliminate and prevent violence against women and girls.
Letter from Rose Kones, Maseno
