The ‘Activate Nairobi’ Campaign raising awareness on women empowerment has supported calls for public-private collaborations to expand provision of mental health services to survivors of gender-based violence to ensure they get the services at any health facility with ease.
The campaign aligned with the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV) will ensure necessary support, counselling and therapeutic interventions are readily available enabling victims to heal under a stima-free environment.
Speaking during the national convention on mental health services for survivors in Nairobi Kenya women professionals have called on the local governments to collaborate with non-profit organisations' to promote awareness about mental health within the context of GBV thereby creating essential steps toward creating a more compassionate and responsive system for those affected.Valeria Buoninfante, Deputy Head of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) Regional Office of Nairobi emphasised: “GBV as a major global threat saying It is crucial to empower survivors and give them a voice by fostering dialogue and collaborative efforts therefore need to take urgent action to bring change in social and individual behaviour.
Present during the convention was the Presidential Women's Rights Advisor Harriette Chiggai, Appellate Judge Lady Justice Hellen Omondi, Liz Washika - GBV and Human Rights Program Manager at NASCOP, Roselyne Mkabana, Head of GBV Unit at Nairobi County Government and Pasqueline Njeri, Founder of Calmind Foundation who urged survivors to speak out and seek justice while ensuring the society is made aware of consequence of perpetrating violence against women.
The campaign is a collaborative effort involving the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the Italian Institute of Culture (IIC) in Nairobi and the Embassy of Italy in Kenya. Together, they aim to raise awareness and promote initiatives addressing mental health services for survivors of sexual violence in the community.
