Saving Girls From Female genital Mutilation/Cut.

Impact of COVID-19 in Our Anti-FGM/C campaigns

Covid-19 brought Lockdowns  and curfews to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, it has  fueled an upsurge in gender-based violence across the geographical area of our Jurisdiction where we do Anti-FGM/C  campaign. There are cases of women and girls getting more isolated and vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. There are no official statistics on the number of cases of violence against women and girls in villages of Tharaka Nithi, Embu , Meru  and informal settlement where we operate but calls to our help lines have surged more than 15-fold since lockdown and curfew  measures were imposed in mid March in Kenya increasing tensions  within the home, noting that gender-based violence had increased, mental health issues had worsened, and instances of teenage pregnancy had escalated.

Social and economic strains compounded by strict limits on movement  have not only made women and girls been more prone to  FGM/C but also to physical and sexual exploitation and violence with increase in forced child marriages in exchange of dowry to cushion families from economical crises. This has reversed our already made gains in stopping FGM/C. To continue with our Anti FGM/C campaign in these villages we need to raise more money and partner with like minded organizations and individuals to sensitize the communities on dangers of FGM/ C through workshops organized at grassroots level.