On 29 April 2025, Nairobi-based Gender Champions gathered for a breakfast meeting on “The Role of Law in GBV Prevention”, bringing together international and local stakeholders. The event was hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Austria.
H.E. Dr. Christian Fellner, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, opened the event with a speech highlighting the importance of gender equality and the effective implementation of laws. Zainab Hawa Bangura, Under-Secretary General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON), delivered a powerful and personal speech, drawing from personal experience to highlight Gender-Based Violence (GBV) as a global crisis and profound human rights violation. She underscored the necessity of community ownership and government-led processes in driving change at the local level, acknowledging the importance of local Civil Society Organisations and their efforts in trust-building, awareness raising and survivor support. Bangura also highlighted the IGC GBV-Pledge as a best practice for increasing visibility and accountability around GBV prevention efforts.
The opening remarks were followed by an expert panel discussion, including:
- Ms. Vicky Akinyi Owuor, Advocate at the High Court of Kenya, who outlined Kenya’s evolving legal instruments—from the Sexual Offences Act to the FGM Act—and noted positive developments such as increased reporting and training of police officers, while also drawing attention to persistent gaps in enforcement.
- Ms. Sadia Hussein, Executive Director of the Brighter Society Initiative, who declared an end to FGM possible, advocating for integrated, community-driven approaches- including through public-private partnerships, better resourcing of GBV prevention efforts, and economic empowerment of women and girls.
- Mr. Simon Peter Otieno, Director of Make Me Smile Kenya, who presented successes and systemic challenges in paralegal support, including funding gaps through recent budget cuts and limitations in law enforcement accessibility.
- Dr. Philip Ouma from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations, who stressed the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration and aligning national policies with international best practices.
Overall, the event reinforced a shared commitment to ending GBV, with strong calls for visibility, accountability, and a shift from rhetoric to results.
