This Valentine's weekend is probably one R&B star
Rihanna would prefer to forget. Just over a week ago, after leaving a
pre-Grammys party, the songstress was allegedly seriously assaulted by her
boyfriend, singer Chris Brown. While there has been fervent speculation over
what triggered the incident, with some claiming that Rihanna "must have done
something to deserve it," what is indisputable is that a young woman was left
with serious injuries inflicted by someone with whom she was in a relationship.
According to a survey carried out by the Gender
Commission in 2006, up to half of all Kenyan women over the age of 15 will experience
sexual or domestic violence. We have a culture that remains patriarchal: wife-beating is commonplace, and in some instances even condoned. While the
penal code does stipulate sanctions against those convicted of assault and
rape, there are no specific provisions for spousal battery or rape. A cynic
might suspect that the establishment does not consider these to be a crime.
Despite the prevalence of violence against women, there is
only one specialist police station in the country dealing with female victims
of assault. But Kilimani police station is in Nairobi; away from the capital, women who attempt to report rape or domestic violence are left at the mercy of
police officers who may be unsympathetic, who may blame the women themselves
for "not satisfying" their husbands, or for somehow having provoked sexual
assault by strangers. The police, after all, do not live in a cultural vacuum;
if the society around them does not condemn violence against women, they are
unlikely to step in simply because they law says they should. Instead, women are
likely to feel stigmatised and will be reluctant to report assaults, as they fear
being ostracised by their families and society at large.
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As a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
Kenya has an obligation to censure domestic and sexual violence. While the
Ministry of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services may pay lip service to
these ideals, the fact remains that violence against women has actually
increased in the past three years. Until firm action is taken on the ground, to
educate both men and women as to their rights and responsibilities, we will not
see the necessary cultural change so that women are no longer seen as fair
game.
Unlike Chris Brown, Kenyan men are not subject to $50,000
bail on suspicion of beating their wives or girlfriends. They have not lost lucrative endorsement contracts, nor are radio stations refusing to play their
songs. Unlike Rihanna, Kenyan women are not ferried directly to hospital by
solicitous law enforcement officers when they are attacked, nor have the police
impounded their rented Lamborghinis for forensic tests. Jay-Z is not going to
come to their aid. However, this only shows that domestic violence is not
limited to the poor or the unfortunate. Even famous rich women can be victims.
As we continue to read tabloid rumour and conjecture, as we wait for Chris Brown
to appear in court on March 5, we would do well to think about how we can
reduce domestic violence in Kenya.
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Of course violence against women is an incredibly pervasive problem, one that is so deeply entrenched in our culture of patriarchy that often many of us do not recognize violence when we see it, and I believe that psychological violence whereby women are systematically put down (whether it is in a domestic situation or outside), is a problem. I personally believe that we cannot get anywhere if we do not press upon our people that women should be treated with respect at all times, violence is simply and absolutely unacceptable. This is something which I feel very strongly about but unfortunately I am always pessimistic when I think of practical ways to address violence against women in Kenya. What are your suggestions in terms of the next steps needed to improve services as well as legislation?
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