| dc.description.abstract | Executive Summary
The Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK)has been implementing a two year awareness
programme on human and women rights using the concept of community radio listening group in
Isiolo, Wajir,Malindi, Kwaie, Naivasha and Kisumu since 2009. As part of the programme, AMWIK
commissioned this baseline survey on knowledge, attitude and practice of human and women's
rights in the s'l'xdistricts on April to inform the implementation of this project.
The purpose of the survey was to determine the information gaps on women's rights issues in the
six districts to inform the implementation of the awareness programme on human and women
rights in the project areas.
The key findings of the study are that awareness of human rights is not high with a third of
the respondents not aware of their basic human rights. Awareness of rights of women is very
low with only one out of 5 respondents mentioning the various issues touching on the rights of
women. Awareness of laws on rights of women is equally dismally low with only about 14 percent
and 6 percent of respondents mentioning the Constitution of Kenya and Sexual Offences Act
respectively. However, an overwhelming majority of respondents perceive human rights to be
important.
There is very low participation in both human rights and political processes such as Kriegler
Commission, Waki Commission, TJRC, NCIC among others. Three out of four respondents
have never participated in human rights processes. The main reasons for low participation are
high illiteracy, ignorance of such process, lack of information on such processes and traditional
practices that hinder women from active engagement in public life.
Government performance on human rights (food, health, housing, clean water, land and security
among others) is lackluster except in education where it is rated as average. Government
performance is similarly lackluster on all fronts of delivering on women's rights. Only a quarter
of the respondents rated government performance as satisfactory in addressing physical assault,
harassment, rape, incest, early marriage and girl child education. Slightly more women than men
rated government performance as poor. ilUp
to a third of respondents revealed their personal rights have been violated. Similarly, a lot
more than a third of respondents know a woman whose right has been violated by others. More
respondents in Kisumu than other districts know women who have been battered followed by
Wajir and Malindi districts. Unfortunately more than three out of four cases of abuses are not
reported to relevant authorities for action.
The level of satisfaction with handling of cases of reported abuses is low. Close in laws are rated
very highly with satisfaction levels of 98 percent in handling cases of wife battering. There is
overwhelming dissatisfaction with the way government, village elders, clergy and close in laws
handle cases of rape in communities.
Understanding of role of duty bearers is average with respondents indicating that government
plays legal enforcement roles; community should discourage traditional practices th~t hurt
women and civil society to do civic education and advocacy.
Respondents said the community should engage in community education of members about
women's rights, protect the rights of women and encourage women to report cases of violations.
Preferred mass media for obtaining information on human rights are radio, television and
newspapers in that order. Weekly use of mobile phones and internet is negligent. More females
than men prefer radio to newspapers. Massmedia isthe preferred method ofobtaining information
on women's rights followed by interpersonal communication channels such as group meetings
and seminars. Women prefer mobile phones, meetings and mass media in that order.
Other sources of information on human rights are chief's barazas, friends, women meetings,
relatives and workmates. More women than men prefer women groups and spouses as sources
of information.
Respondents suggested public education, awareness campaigns and legal instruments as ways of
addressing challenges facing women in society.
In conclusion, understanding of human rights and women rights is still low; and participation in
human rights and political process is also dismal. Therefore, there is need for sustained human
rights education and advocacy to increase knowledge about fundamental rights and privileges
in the districts. There is need for government to invest more resources to facilitate citizen
participation in human rights discourses and political processes such as T]RC, NCCI, IIEC and
constitutional reviews. Linkages should be made with civil society to complement the work of
government.
Understanding of the roles of duty bearers is average but understanding of the roles of
respondents in the political process is low with many indicating they can only play representation
roles if given the opportunity. The implication is that many Kenyans still do not understand
their civic responsibility role of holding the government accountable to deliver reforms and
good governance. There is need to increase knowledge of people in the districts on their civic
responsibilities to enable them understand their roles in the delivery of effective services, human
rights and preservation and protection of women's rights.
Levelsof human rights and women rights violations are very high and not acceptable because
Kenyaisa signatory to international protocols that require that they preserve and protect human
and woman lights. There is need for greater awareness within the tricts targeting ordinary
people and those in leadership to help preserve and protect human rights and women's rights.
Enforcement of existing laws should be a priority in the project districts.
There isunderstanding that the community should play an education and enforcement roles that
promotes women rights. There is need to build the capacity of community based organizations to
empower individuals and groups to preserve and protect the rights of individuals and women.
Massmedia such as radio and television, especially local FMradio stations are important sources
of information on human rights and women's rights. However, women's meetings, seminars
and public meetings such as chief's barazas and faith meetings are also key in disseminating
information on human rights and women's rights. The project should exploit the potential of
both mass media and traditional channels of communication. The project should use multiple
channels of communication that utilizes mass media for public sensitization and interpersonal
communication channels to nurture attitude and behaviour change. | en_US |
