By Alvin Mwangi
Globally, an estimated 736 million women—almost one in three—have been subjected to intimate partner violence, non-partner sexual violence, or both at least once in their lifetime.
The rates of depression, anxiety disorders, unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and HIV are higher in women who have experienced violence compared to women who have not, as well as many other health problems that can last even after the violence has ended.
Every year almost half of all pregnancies about 121 million are unintended. This is according to the World Health Organization report that was released in September last year. Women and girls continue to face life-threatening situations in their daily social, educational, economical, and personal lives from acts of violence with the perpetrator known to them most of the time.
Access to Safe and legal abortion to survivors of Sexual violence is almost impossible even when the law has clearly mandated and directed it as a Right to survivors in some countries like Kenya.
According to KDHS 2014, 14% of women and 6 percent of men aged 15 – 49 report having experienced sexual violence at least once in their lifetime. The Government of Kenya has enacted several laws and has policies and regulations to prevent and control forms of violence against women and children Including the Constitution of Kenya (2010), the sexual Offences Act (2006) among others.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya has witnessed an increase in gender-based violence (GBV) cases reported by men, women, and children. According to the Ministry of Health, between mid-March and June 2020, over 5000 rape cases were reported. 70% of victims were girls aged 18 and below. 5% were boys and men. 95% of the perpetrators were men. The numbers were a 7% increase from cases reported during the same period in 2019.
According to WHO latest estimates, 1 in 3 women aged 15 years and older around the world have been subjected to physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner, non-partner, or both, at least once in their lifetime, indicating that levels of Violence against women and girls have remained largely unchanged over the last decade.
We have heard of many cases of Sexual Violence where the survivor gets pregnant or even is infected with HIV amongst other STIs. What happens when these women get pregnant? and even, get pregnant as a result of incest, Should they receive safe abortion services and information? What post-traumatic experiences do these girls and women go through being forced to carry this pregnancy to term?
What are some of the societal aspects of stigma and discrimination will they go through? Safe Abortion remains a right for a Sexual Violence Survivor.
Young girls and women continue to face life-threatening situations and even lose their lives from these acts of violence which most of the time the perpetrator is known to them.
What is the government doing to ensure we all Save lives? Save women from these post-traumatic experiences and even deaths resulting from unsafe ways of terminating pregnancies resulting from rape and defilement. It is unfortunate that in the recent past cases of Sexual and gender-based violence especially to minors have been increasing.
Unfortunately, the systems that ought to protect girls and women like Gender desks in police stations, laws that are still not being implemented, and resources are not prioritized.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Kenya has witnessed an increase in cases around Gender-based violence for both men, children, and women, with some of the cases, lives being lost. We have an opportunity to make a difference for the better. Every one of us has a role to play.
The government through The Ministry of Health should offer access to termination of pregnancy and post-abortion care in the event of pregnancy from defilement and rape as per the Rights of a Survivor of Sexual Violence as per the National Guidelines on Management of Sexual Violence in Kenya.
Alvin Mwangi is a sexual reproductive health and rights youth Expert based in Nairobi.
Twitter: @alvinmwangi254
