Calls for education and empowerment of girls as 16 days of activism begin

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Stakeholders and child rights activists have called for the education of girls in Turkana County as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) began on Saturday.

While speaking during the launch on Friday, they said thousands of girls are still dropping out of school to get married to wealthy men owning large herds of cattle.

"It is not just a women's issue. It is a societal issue that requires the active participation of every individual, community, and agencies," said Gertraud Suhren, the GIZ employability and entrepreneurship (Proceed) Turkana West project manager.

The forum in Kakuma, Turkana, served as a platform for the community to unite against deeply ingrained practices that perpetuate violence and deny children the right to education.

UNHCR representative Godfrey Okoth said calls to invest in financial resources, education, and policy change will dismantle structures that allow GBV to persist.

"UNHCR acknowledges the communal responsibility to prevent GVB, mitigate risks, and respond to survivor's rights and needs in accordance with international standards," he said.