Kenya: Update to KEN34709.E of 19 June 2000 regarding spousal abuse; organizations and resources for battered women; government programs and legislation; and effectiveness of state protection, specifically in cases of a family member
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 31 January 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KEN40560.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kenya: Update to KEN34709.E of 19 June 2000 regarding spousal abuse; organizations and resources for battered women; government programs and legislation; and effectiveness of state protection, specifically in cases of a family member , 31 January 2003, KEN40560.E , available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4dba0.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For current information on spousal abuse including sexual assault, organizations and resources for battered women, government programs and legislation, please consult a comprehensive report by Amnesty International (AI) entitled Kenya: Rape – The Invisible Crime (8 Mar. 2002). An additional source of information on gender-based violence and access to protection for victims of sexual assault is a report by the Refugee Women's Resource Project of Asylum Aid called No Upright Words: The Human Rights of Women in Kenya (Feb. 2001).
Additional recent sources indicate that violence against women, including spousal abuse and sexual assault is widespread in Kenya (ACIS 8 Apr. 2002; EAS 13 May 2002a; ibid. 13 May 2002b) and despite the drafting of a Domestic Violence (Family Protection) Bill which has yet to be debated in parliament (ibid.; The Nation 20 Dec. 2002), women continue to face various forms of violence including "assault, psychological and emotional torture by spouses, rape, female genital mutilation (FGM), abductions ... and even murder" (ACIS 8 Apr. 2002; EAS 13 May 2002a; ibid. 13 May 2002b; Sojourner Apr. 2001).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
African Church Information Service (ACIS). 8 April 2002. Vincent R. Okungu. "Violence Against Women High on African Agenda." Amnesty International (AI). 8 March 2002. Kenya: Rape – The Invisible Crime. Asylum Aid. February 2001. Refugee Women's Resource Project. No Upright Words: The Human Rights of Women in Kenya. East African Standard (EAS). 13 May 2002a. Catherine Gitahi. "Using Bride Price as Excuse for Violence." _____. 13 May 2002b. Ng'ang'a Mbugua. "Time to Review the Marriage Contract." The Nation [Nairobi]. 20 December 2002. Odhiambo Orlale. "Narc to Revive Anti-Graft Bill." Sojourner. April 2001. Erin Kern. "Kenyan Domestic Violence Activist Joins Amnesty International's Campaign Against Torture." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
NEXIS
Internet sites, including:
Africa Action
Africa Online
AllAfrica.com
Amnesty International (AI)
BBC Africa
Global IDP
Human Rights Watch (HRW)
International Environmental Law Research Centre (IELRC)
UNIFEM
United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
U.S. Department of State
Women's Human Rights Net
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
Women's International Network News (WIN)
World News Connection (WNC)
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