Ending violence against women and girls remains one of the most serious and ongoing challenges worldwide. WEL focuses on Elimination of Violence against Women & Girls by facilitating development, promotion and enforcement of appropriate mechanisms for prevention, protection and response to violence against women.
- WEL’s prevention and response working groups in Nairobi, Naivasha and Mombasa has facilitated support for over 74,000 members of the communities.
- WEL establishes multi-sectoral community VAWG working groups with membership from government, CBOs, FBOs, women and youth groups. Currently there are ongoing groups in the following areas:-
Kamukunji
Kasarani
Kibera
Dagoreti
Kangemi
Makadara
Embakasi
Mai-Mahiu
Naivasha
Movement building
We mobilize, organise and strengthen networks, structures and mechanisms for prevention and effective response to VAWG at all levels. This includes establishment and/or strengthening of community working groups, community VAWG resource centers, as well as support to champions of change and community resource persons.
Advocacy campaigns
Engage in advocacy for policy and legislative enactment and implementation. In particular, push for the full implementation of the Sexual Offences Act, Anti-FGM Act and the Protection against Domestic Violence Act. Also participate in the annual 16 days of activism campaigns implementation of the ‘TupeNafasi Initiative and “Sisters’ Keeper”’
Education/ awareness raising
We undertake education initiatives to create awareness for community and citizens at large on VAWG, including through the social and mainstream media. This will include anti FGM and early marriages campaigns e.g. “Let’s educate our daughters”.
Strengthening structures for response to VAWG
strengthening community social safe guards to reduce the vulnerability to and effects of VAWG towards women and girls. This will include enhancing access to safe spaces/ shelter, psychosocial and legal support for survivors of VAWG. Also to initiate and establish working mechanisms for prevention and response to VAWG in the transport industry.
Strengthening referral networks
Establish referral mechanisms and networks within communities as well as with County Governments (e.g. gender sub-committees amongst others ) to formulate and implement policy on SGBV
Community led activism
provide support towards civic driven change by sensitizing/ mentorship of the community members, including men and elders, to take actions that prevent and respond rapidly and effectively to VAWG. This would include provision of rescue services to survivors of violence, and be able to re-integrate them back to the community.