Voices Versus Violence: Young Women Lead Bold GBV Dialogue in Kisumu

Forum sparks urgent calls for survivor-centred reforms and stronger institutional accountability in the fight against gender-based violence.

In Kisumu County, a region grappling with alarming rates of gender-based violence (GBV), a powerful youthled dialogue has placed young women at the forefront of shaping GBV prevention and response strategies.

The event—held this week and convened by Women Volunteers for Peace (WOVOP) Kenya with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP Kenya)—brought together survivors, youth leaders, civil society actors, and government representatives in a groundbreaking effort to spotlight community-driven solutions to GBV.

The dialogue was anchored in current national statistics, which show that one in three Kenyan women experiences some form of GBV. Participants raised critical concerns, particularly over delayed implementation of survivor-focused policies, insufficiently resourced Gender-Based Violence Recovery Centres (GBVRCs), and poor coordination among police, health workers, and judicial officers—factors that often contribute to victims’ secondary trauma.

Attendees called for urgent action on gender-responsive budgeting at county level, full operationalisation of GBVRCs, and the inclusion of young women in policymaking spaces.

Emphasis was also placed on tailoring prevention strategies to local contexts and cultural dynamics.

Participants at the youth-led dialogue forum in Kisumu, convened by WOVOP Kenya with UNDP support,