Social Norms, Gender Inequity And Sexual Gender Based Violence (Sgbv)
Gender based violence
is one of the most persistent violations of human rights across the globe. According to the world health organization, about one third of women worldwide have experienced violence. Among the marginalized population, a high prevalence of violence is linked with HIV, in particular among the transgender women.
In Kenya 32% of young women aged 18-24 years and 18% of their male counterparts reported experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18. Gender based violence reduces the bargaining power to negotiate safe sex, stay on treatment or remain in school.
Adolescent and young people usually faces different kinds of sexual violence in Homa Bay County, like rape, sexual harassment, forced marriage, defilement and many other forms of sexual exploitation. CYAN Kenya believes that community level action combined with national and global advocacy and structural change can lead to change and accelerate good work geared towards combating gender based violence. The organization implements the following activities to help deal with gender based violence in the community:
- Community advocacy
- Linkage with the local administration.
- Refer survivors of sexual violation to the hospital for medication.
The organization also breaks the local social norms of limiting access to sexual and reproductive services in the community (which hinders the adolescents). To achieve this change the organization uses the named strategies below to enhance and support access:
Behavior Change Communication
This is to transform the community from their initial beliefs and social rules that derails the roadmap towards access to services like safe abortion, contraception and other sexual and reproductive health services and rights to adolescents and young people.
Male Involvement in Participation
To ensure all-inclusiveness in ASRH, particularly in the uptake of modern contraceptives
