SEXUAL AND GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE CASES ON THE RISE

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has taken note of the rampant reported cases of sexual and gender-based violence in the country. Specifically, the Commission strongly condemns the recent incident of a young girl who was assaulted and forcefully subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by her brother in Kuria East, Migori County. Police are handling the matter and the suspect is in custody. NGEC also calls on the police to take swift action and bring all the perpetrators to justice.

The Commission is watching the situation closely and will work to ensure that the rights of the young girl and all those affected by FGM are protected. FGM is a harmful cultural practice that has no place in our society. We urge the communities in Migori County and the country at large to shun such practices and protect girls from the horrors of FGM. We must work together to create a society where all girls can live free from violence and discrimination. Kenya is a leader in the Action Coalition on Gender-Based Violence and the Government committed to 12 concrete Commitments at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris in June 2021 aimed at increasing the momentum of ending all forms of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya by 2026. The National Gender and Equality Commission stands in solidarity with the young girl and all survivors of FGM.

Further, the Commission is closely monitoring the situation and reviewing the video footage that has been circulating on social media showing a young girl being viciously assaulted by men. The Commission has confirmed that, this video is not in any way linked to the Kuria East, Migori County, case that took place on 26/1/2023. We call on members of the public who have any information related to the incident in the video to come forward and share it with the relevant authorities for action.

SIGNED

Dr. Joyce M. Mutinda PhD, EBS

CHAIRPERSON