From where I stand: “I am a father and I have daughters. I do not want to see their rights denied or limited just because they are girls”
In Kenya, where sexual and gender-based violence is a problem of significant magnitude, Charles Kosgei a Catechist (Christian teacher) at a local church in Kapkuptoro, Kericho County, is teaching women and men about positive masculinities and encouraging them to reject the normalization of violence.Date:
As a catechist, I teach the members of my community through the church. It gives me a chance to teach men and boys about positive masculinities, and about the roles and behaviours that are considered normal or acceptable [by the society], but are [in reality] harmful for women and girls.
We talk about patriarchy and the negative effect of violence against women…and why we need [to learn] to coexist peacefully.
I also inform women and girls so that they can identify the various forms of violence [they often experience]. Most of them have been exposed to harmful and repressive cultural norms that tolerate such violence and [they think this is normal]. Frequently, women and girls do not report sexual violence to the authorities because of stigma. By reporting the violence they experienced, they can become victims all over again, because the community blames them and stigmatizes them.”
Read the full story on UN Women's regional website for Africa