The Samburu County Gender Sector Working Group (CGSWG) has launched the Male Engagement and Inclusion Thematic Group in an effort to strengthen the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the region.
Speaking during the launch in Maralal town, Beatrice Gachie from the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action noted that the male engagement will be the fifth thematic area under the CGSWG after Women in leadership and decision making, Women in security, Women social economic empowerment and Anti-GBV.
Gachie said that the male inclusion will focus on empowering men and boys to realize their position as partners and beneficiaries of the gender agenda and help in the fight against and eradication of GBV.
“There is a notion that men are the only perpetrators in GBV and there is a misconception it is about women. Men are not seen like they are part of gender affairs and that is why we have the male engagement and inclusion as a thematic area to strengthen the fight against GBV in Samburu County.”
“Men are the custodians of culture and if they are brought on board and empowered as partners and beneficiaries, we will see a drop in outdated cultural practices and we will achieve gender equality,” she pointed out. She added that the thematic group aims to transform the mindset of men and young Samburu morans to marry women who have not undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and also protect their daughters and sisters from FGM.
“Our goal is to have empowered men and boys who will support Women in leadership and decision making, Women in security, Women social economic empowerment and Anti-GBV thematic areas and not feel threatened as a man,” Gachie said.
At the same function, the Samburu County GBV directorate was also launched to serve as a source of information for all stakeholders offering diverse services and the contact persons. It will improve service delivery to GBV victims and survivors and strengthen the referral pathways.