BADILIKA PROJECT
REPORTS FROM THE FACING VIOLENCE AND DARE TO SPEAK BOOKS.
Nine members were present with two police officers and only CWID and KICODI were represented. There was an apology from Liz Aroka-ICRHK. One of the members opened the session with a word of prayer before we did am introduction.
The session was kick-started with a skit from the members, the skit was about the roles of the members back in the community once they have completed their terms in jail and how possible they can advice and be of help to their peers and community members on GBV issues. They only played the first part of the skit, part two will be presented in the next visit.
Lorine then chaired and briefed the members about the session. It was basically about reports from them about their reactions from the Facing the Violence and Dare to Speak Books. Members contributed and we were impressed they could identify the gaps in the stories and mitigate the situations.
Issues arising and mitigations.
From the Facing the Violence book, many were touched by Lorine, Mwanafunzi, Paul and Leysha’s narrative stories. Club members also agreed that there is a high prevalence of sexual abuse going on in Coast Province and they have been motivated to undertake training on how they can get back to their communities and create awareness on GBV after finishing their terms.
Parents need to be empowered to know how to ensure their children are safe at the surroundings where they live. They should also be informed on what to do incase of a member of the family (in most cases the children) is sexually abused and be always ready to have free
The leader of the Badilika club giving his views on the
stories in Facing the Violence book.
discussions with their children as well as to make the children have full trust to hence they feel free to report their problems.
From some of the stories, it came out clear that even with the police who are supposed to protect the survivors can also be potential abusers , and there is still no safety for the survivors while they are being handled by the police, some of the police end up abusing the survivors taking advantage of their vulnerability.
It also came out of the discussion from the paralegals that there is Police reform Bill that enables a police who is a perpetrator or a suspect of a crime to step aside to pave way for investigations.
Judges and prosecutors also need training in handling GBV cases and the suvivors in court. Lawyers too need to be sensitized on humanity when it comes to handling SGBV cases.
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GBV survivors also have to be helped to get out of the stigma, especially for the children who grow up with the stigma and end up projecting it in different ways. Counselling and debriefing was found to be a better way to deal with the psychological stigma of both the survivor and the perpetrators.
Badilika members presenting the skit on defilement.
There is need for the members to know the rescue centers around them and to help in knowing where to direct GBV cases.
The group requested to be equipped with the skills of Paralegal on basic approach to GBV and SGBV and Human Rights to help in handling GBV cases, this will also empower them to gain knowledge on the legal process regarding to GBV cases, and they can also share these skills amongst themselves with in the prison.
Awareness creation is needed in the grassroots where people are still bound to culture and do not understand the effects of some of the culture to the society as many are a source of GBV.
Way forward.
Members agreed to be in two group in every meeting where together we will analyze the stories in the Facing the Violence books and try to identify the type of GBV, this will help us understand how to deal with GBV cases and what role we play to ensure a GBV free society.
Members then had drinks before getting toiletries for their personal use. The badilika chairperson gave vote of thanks and the session was closed with a word of prayer from Marilyn.