Feminist Peace Network

Western media continues to frame the unrest that has been occurring in Kenya as a political matter, completely ignoring the sexual violence against women and children that has been an integral part of the crisis.  NationMedia (Kenya), however, has a horrific assessment of the ongoing violence against women in refugee camps in Kenya:

“Two weeks after President Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga signed the power-sharing deal to end the post-election violence, displaced people at the camps are yet to know peace.

The women and girls, most of whom suffered sexual or gender-based attacks even before arriving at the camps, are still at great risk.

Incidents of rape and sexual exploitation abound as desperation sets in at the camps, note local and internal NGOs in a report.

The rapid assessment response report released during a workshop in Nairobi this week, says that not only are the victims attacked by men from rival communities, but there are claims that security personnel and humanitarian workers are also involved.

Threats such as “If you do not move out, we shall rape the women” by attackers at Timboroa, as revealed by a rape victim at the local camp, become real as some women are sexually attacked, while others scamper to safer areas.”

“For women and girls in need of safety at the settlements, the risk of sexual violence is such that humanitarian organisations are worried. “There are many women and children who have been molested and raped,” Ms June Koinange, the coordinator of psychosocial support of the Kenya Red Cross, and a member of the GBV, a rapid assessment cluster team, said at the workshop. “Many are yet to even speak out about their experiences as they struggle to survive.

“The attacks have been coming from everywhere, including the camps themselves, where security is lacking and the residents are desperate for basic needs like food and shelter,” she noted.

“There is urgent need to protect the people in the camps or we shall be facing an even worse crisis because matters of safety in sexual crimes do not apply here.”

In Nairobi, most adolescent girls in focus groups in slums such as Kibera and Kawangware say they know someone who has been raped.

The report notes that sexual violence is also on the rise among women seeking sanctuary in places like Tigoni, more than 25km outside Nairobi.

Some of the attacks are carried out by gangs of men who commit other atrocities.

Similar attacks are also said to be happening in areas like Burnt Forest. Women express fears of sexual violence because of makeshift sleeping arrangements at the sites, where males and females (not of the same family) are forced to share tents at night.”

“According to the report, they also voice concern over what they call lack of regulation, making it easy for men from the outside the camps to enter unchecked by the officials.

Sexual exploitation is also a major concern at the camps, with humanitarian workers reporting cases in which women and girls exchange sex for basic resources such as food, sanitary towels and transport.”

““We have encountered several cases, especially at various camps in Nairobi and its environs, where some security personnel and humanitarian staff are said to have solicited sex in exchange for food and shelter,” she said.

Lack of crucial medical emergency interventions in cases of sexual assault, such as the accessibility of the post-exposure prophylaxis, or emergency treatment given to rape victims as a preventive measure against HIV and Aids, is another major challenge.

The report says that the lives of many women and girls at the risk of contracting HIV and Aids can be saved with the provision of this treatment within 72 hours of attack.

Another challenge is lack of training for the humanitarian staff to enable them to effectively handle victims. “It has been difficult collecting statistics as sexual violence is so sensitive and stigmatised. Many are the victims who suffer in silence,” said Ms Jeane Ward, a GBV consultant.

“The criminal justice system has also let the girls and women down because they are yet to take these matters seriously,” adds Ms Koinange.”

There is nothing unique about this violence, it has been repeated too many times in too many places.  But it once again points out that until we see this sexual violence as the violation of international law that it is and until we see this as part of the problem that must be resolved with the full participation of those most victimized, then it will continue.

Filed under: Uncategorized, Atrocities, Militarism, Misogyny, Gender-Based Violence, Children