Clergy to champion SGBV zero tolerance

Clergy to champion SGBV zero tolerance

Religious leaders in Embu County have committed to champion zero-tolerance for sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Speaking after a capacity building forum by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) on anti-violence messaging, 30 religious leaders drawn from NCCK, the Supreme Council of Kenyan Muslims (SUPKEM), and the Hindu Council committed to issuing anti-SGBV messages in their places of worship. They also agreed to facilitate proper sexual conduct conversations with teenagers and the youth in their communities and places of worship.

The forum, which was officiated by NCCK’s Embu County Coordinating Committee Vice Chairperson Bishop Silvanas Nyaga, Vimal Chadha from Hindu Council, and Sheikh Ramadhan Njuguna from SUPKEM, is part of a process aimed at incorporating men and youth in anti SGBV initiatives, noting that they are oftentimes the perpetrators or victims.

“On the part, we call upon the Judiciary to play their part by ensuring severe disciplinary action is taken against the perpetrators”, said Bishop Nyaga at the end of the forum. “We need to address the fears that some people in the courts connive with the perpetrators of SGBV to deny, delay or avert justice for the survivors” he added.

Embu County has recently experienced rising cases of GBV and teenage pregnancies, with data from the county’s public health department showing an increase in adolescent pregnancies from 128 cases in 2022 to 151 cases by Sep 2023. The training was organized under the Wadada wa Pawa project being implemented by NCCK in partnership with UN Women, and is aimed at enhancing the participation of women of all ages in politics and decision-making.