Gender Based Violence

Since it's Women's Month, we thought to share this brief blog. Violence against women and girls often begins at a young age. Alarmingly, nearly 1 in 4 adolescent girls who have been in intimate relationships experience physical and/or sexual violence from their partners by their mid-twenties. Health systems play a crucial role in supporting women survivors of violence, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has developed new resources to inform, advocate for, and strengthen violence...

A Night to Remember: Atieno's Journey to Coast National Polytechnic When Atieno was 19, her life took an unexpected turn on a fateful night at a Nairobi bus stop. She was en route to Mombasa, excited to join the Coast National Polytechnic. As she waited for the night bus, a charming stranger named Manga started conversing with her. They shared stories, dreams, and laughter, making Atieno's heart flutter. Manga even bought her a Fanta, but little did she know that things were about to take a...

How many women face gender-based violence each year? Globally , approximately one in three women experience rape or physical abuse at some point in their lifetime. The numbers are even more shocking when we look at children—nearly one in two girls and one in five boys worldwide experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. This global violence epidemic has lasting effects; survivors of gender-based violence are at an increased risk of long-term mental health problems including depression,...

Since 2019 there have been increasing cases of women being killed by men. In April this year two women athletes were killed by their respective lovers in their homes. This was shortly after they had won their respective races. Which begs the question: Is femicide a sign of resistance to change? These two women had won in their respective races. That translates to cash gifts, brand endorsements, and ability to lead fulfilling lives with minimal stress. The next logical question is whether the...