Letter to Pope Francis regarding his visit to Kenya

As Kenyan people welcome Pope Francis in Kenya, Fortress of Hope Africa andYoung Women Leadership Institute writes a joint letter with women and girls leaders to Pope Francis

Women and girls leaders from across the country are thrilled and honored to have you (Pope Francis) visit Kenya .We warmly welcome  and say “Karibu Kenya”. Your visit is historical to this dear nation; it your first trip to Africa and you choose Kenya as your first landing on the continent. As women and girls’ leaders, we are extremely humbled.

We are writing to beseech you to remember the women and girls of Kenya during your visit by addressing the deep-rotted issue of Violence against women and girls. Your visit (falls within) the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based-Violence; Nov 25^th –Dec 10^th and we ask you to amplify the voices of the women and girls to end gender based violence

In Kenya, United Nations statistics show that, 83% of Kenyan women experience physical violence and abuse as children. According to a 2006 report from the National Commission on Human Rights in Kenya, a girl or woman is raped in Kenya every 30 minutes. Other statistics in Kenya indicate that, one in five Kenyan women aged 15-49 has experienced sexual violence representing an increase of 5.1%since 2003.

Statistics have also shown 43% of girls were married before age 18. According to the most recent Demographic Health Survey (DHS), the estimated prevalence of FGM in girls and women Ages 15-49 years) is 21% (DHS 2014) .Also Kenyan women living with HIV/AIDS have experienced forced sterilization ,not forgetting the recently Presidential directive  calling  for collection of names of People Living with HIV.According to the commission of investigation into the pot-election, at least 900 women were raped during Kenya’s 2007/8 turmoil .To date, many incidents of sexual violence reaming unreported

Kenya women and girls for a long time have reported verbal and physical abuse, humiliation negligent, unnecessary routine and medical producers from hospitals when seeking reproductive health services more so when giving birth.Videos and stories have been shared of women giving birth in hospital floor while the nurse’s watch, slapping and other forms of violence.These violations have been worsened by government inability to allocate adequate resources in the health sector monitor and implement laws that protect women and children

These are just  a few examples of  forms of violence women and girls of Kenya experience, the abuses by state and society  are immense and a big burden for women of Kenya to bear .We humbly request you to address the status of women in Kenya including their health and rights by:

1. Calling the government to fully implement all laws that protect women and girls of Kenya (The constitution, Sexual Offences act of 2006,2011 Anti-FGM Law, Prevention against Domestic violence Act 2015 and other international laws agreed by the government)
2. Call on the office of Attorney General ,Director of Public Prosecution  and others to speed up all sexual and gender based violence cases in Kenya  ( All rape cases, Forced Sterilization of HIV-Positive Women and Collection of Names of People Living With HIV  case and many more )
3. Calling the government to stop and avoid all together delaying reproductive health services, humiliating, physically and verbally abusing, neglecting and discriminating of women and girls accessing reproductive health services in Kenya .
4. Call on the government to remove all barriers to uptake of reproductive health services by women and girls, and ensure access to friendly reproductive health services. The services must be in the right place, at the right time, at the right price (free where necessary) and delivered in the right style to be acceptable to young people and women.
5. Respect and uphold the Constitution of Kenya which affirms that “every person has the right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive healthcare.” [Article 43(1) (a)] and provides that “A person shall not be denied emergency medical treatment.” [Article 43(2)].
6. Calling on the government to have measures in place that will guarantee quality education for all, make schools safe for all, increase the retention and transition rates for girls in school and not just talk about gender parity.
7. We urge you to speak about gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls because investing in women and girls in key in achieving Sustainable Development Goals, human rights and a just world for all.

Thank you for listening to the voices of women and girls .We wish you a nice stay in Beautiful Motherland Kenya.

Letter by Fortress of Hope Africa and Young Women Leadership Institute (click here for the original link)