The Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) has decried the rising cases of various forms of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against teachers in schools across the country.
KNUT Second National Women Representative Mercy Muthoni said that GBV has affected teachers’ performance, which she said is worrying, an observation made as the global 16 days of activism against GBV approaches its homestretch.
Muthoni described sexual harassment as the most common form of GBV, a problem she said cuts across both genders.
“When a worker is sexually harassed, he or she cannot produce. It is not just about women, even males at some places of work are harassed. We are talking about bringing an end to harassment and violence at places of work,” she said.
Speaking while addressing a female teachers’ forum in Bomet, she called for the ratification of the 2006 ILO Convention C 190 Recommendation concerning violence.
Muthoni appealed for concerted efforts to end the vice, adding that teachers have to come up with ways of mitigating and identifying incidences of GBV among teachers and their loved ones.
“As we celebrate the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, they have agreed in one voice that there are ways to mitigate that. There are ways to identify cases where GBV has been meted on them and even their loved ones,” added Muthoni.
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Bomet branch Executive Secretary Desmond Langat acknowledged that many teachers have become victims of GBV, stating that they will draw attention towards stopping GBV as outlined in the Union’s laws.
County Social and Gender Services Chief Officer Pauline Korir echoed the sentiments, further urging couples in the country to use amicable ways to solve conflicts.
“Cases of killings, wife and husband battering, defilement and other forms of violence are on the rise in our county. We want to ask our people to love each other and use amicable ways to address their disputes,” stated Korir.
By Kimutai Langat
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