By TalkAfrica Correspondent
Women in Nairobi recently came out in large numbers to commence the 16 days of activism with pomp and colour. Drawn from various organizations and other entities,they wore wore hot pink t-shirts to mark the beginning of the 16 days of activism .
16 days of activism is commemorated every year from 25 November -the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to 10 December-Human Rights Day.
According to the United Nations, the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world.
In Kenya, women have been having candid conversations on twitter about human-rights violations directed towards women and girls via a unique hashtag.
Have you been wondering why Kenyan’s on Twitter have been flooding their timelines with pink text and an accompanying hashtag
#MyPinkMyWhy? It is a campaign aimed at raising awareness on the need for the Kenyan government to prioritize ending SGBV.
The campaign which culminated in the exclusively women’s only 10 Kilometers run on Sunday 25th November 2018, is a first for Kenya and indeed the region. Depending on one’s ability, the women will run- or walk – which will allow women, traditionally on the receiving end of violations, in their own voice and in unison to highlight issues of protection themselves
Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, Nairobi Woman representative, Esther Passaris and veteran politician Martha Karua were among the participants.
“Women and girls who are regularly and disproportionately on the receiving end of sexual and gender-based violence will for the first time in unison and with clarity stand up to say ‘This stops now!’. By running and walking across Nairobi wearing one color, women and girls of different ages different races and different social economic backgrounds are showing just how pervasive sexual violence is. They are showing that if we do not step up and make SGBV our priority then we will all be destroyed across all generations. ” Judy Gitau – Nkuranga- Regional Coordinator,
Equality Now Africa.
The run themed, “Protection against SGBV”, commenced on Sunday morning at Uhuru Park, Nairobi. It was organized by Equality Now with the support from various human rights organizations.
The hope is that the awareness will create a critical mass to call for safe spaces and shelters first in Nairobi and subsequently throughout the country.
Here are some of the tweets of Kenyan’s supporting the campaign:
The run will also provide a platform for the desegregated participants to showcase the specific areas and issues they work on through placards, billboards, and booths set up closer to the date of the run and on the day of the run.
The hashtag according to the organizers the run seeks to remind everyone that ending gender-based violence is our problem and unless we make it our problem, women and girls rights will Continue to be abused.
In Kenya, women have been having candid conversations on twitter about human-rights violations directed towards women and girls via a unique hashtag.
