An Examination of Human Rights Awareness and Knowledge Among Barmaids in Mathare Sub County in Nairobi County

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of human rights awareness among barmaids in Mathare Sub-County, Nairobi County. The study was guided by four objectives which focused on; level of awareness of the human rights; social factors influencing awareness of human rights; capacity to demand for human rights and type of human right violation common to the barmaid. The study embraced the empowerment theory to demonstrate the need to empower barmaids in order to liberate them from human rights violation. The descriptive survey design was used in order to describe the level of barmaids’ awareness of existing human rights. The target population comprised of 238 barmaids working in 119 licensed bars in Mathare Sub County. The sample size drawn from the target population comprised of 88 barmaids from 59 bars/clubs. Through analysis, the study identified that majority of barmaid were aware of human rights such as rights to life, freedom of religion, right to reproductive health, economic and social rights. The study established that majority of barmaids learns about human rights from school 40%, television/radio 23%, friends 18.9%, family 7.8% and the rest such as newspapers/magazine, internet, and reading from legal documents tied at 3.3%. It was further established that there were social factors such social lifestyle, family size and structure, average disposal income, level of education that influenced the level of awareness of the human right. The researcher affirmed that barmaid had the capacity to demand for human rights. Finally, the study established that the most common injustices towards barmaids included physical assaults, sexual assaults, stigma and discrimination displays, arbitrary arrest and unlawful detention, threats of sexual violence and death threats. These human violations were perpetrated by clients, police, bar managers/supervisors and government officials (chief) in that order. The study recommended that there is need to intensify barmaids’ exposure to human right by sensitization programmes such as seminars, workshops and social media.