University of Eldoret Gender Based Violence Training

The United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women defined the term “gender based abuse” as “any act of gender based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion, or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.” This definition encompasses rape, torture, mutilation, sexual slavery, forced impregnation, and murder, and distinguishes male perpetrated violence against women from other non-gender based forms of violence. Gender based violence has been recognized as a global public health and human rights problem that leads to high rates of morbidity and mortality, including gynecological problems, sexually transmitted infections, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance dependence, suicide, and mortality.

The Heads of Quality Units of the University of Eldoret attended a Gender Based Violence Training at the Education Complex on June 19th, 2017. The workshop, organized through the Directorate of Gender Equity and Diversity is part of the Directorate’s’ mandate as well as the performance contract for the year 2016/2017.

The workshop was officially opened by Prof. Linet Gohole, Director of Research and Innovation on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor. Prof. Teresa Akenga. The facilitator was Mr. Fred Kariuki, a Gender Specialist. Mr. Kariuki took the participants through the following topics; Understanding Gender: Sexual Gender Based Violence Related concepts, Understanding Gender Based Violence and its impact to the University Community, approaches to making the University a conducive environment free from Sexual Gender Based Violence and what every staff member needs to commit to do to have a better space for everyone.