NAIROBI, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Prominent Kenyan female performing artists on Monday enlisted in a global campaign against domestic and sexual violence that has escalated during COVID-19 lockdowns.
The two celebrities will participate in the Commonwealth Says No More campaign against all forms of physical and emotional abuse against the females due to social pressures linked to the pandemic.
"Am proud to join the global campaign against domestic and sexual violence that affects one in three women worldwide," said Sarah Hassan, a local television actress.
"This is a human rights violation that not only takes a toll on families and children, but on economies and communities as well. And with COVID-19, we have seen numbers increase," she added.
Governments and foundations have rallied behind the new campaign to raise awareness on the escalating crisis of gender-based violence occasioned by negative impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods.
The campaign that is spearheaded by the Commonwealth Secretariat and NO MORE Foundation, aims to support long-term mitigation measures against the vice.
"COVID has emphatically exposed just how urgently we need a cure to flatten the rising curve of domestic and sexual violence," said Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth secretary general.
Brenda Wairimu, a Kenyan television actress and a domestic violence survivor said that joining the campaign will inject vitality in efforts to eradicate a menace that takes a heavier toll on women and girls in resource-constrained settings.
"The protection of women and girls from domestic and sexual violence must be at the heart of COVID-19 response and in everything that we do to create a safer, fairer and better world," said Wairimu.
Margaret Kobia, cabinet secretary in Kenya's Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender said there is an urgency to combat domestic and sexual violence that has undermined the ability of women and girls to realize their potential.
"Across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased domestic violence by 30 percent and we must confront the cultural barriers that have slowed down progress towards zero-gender based violence in our communities," said Kobia.
She said that Kenya is committed to ending female genital mutilation and childhood marriages in its quest to achieve gender parity. Enditem
