Kenya fails to curb widespread violence against women.

• Position: News in Brief

A new report published by Amnesty International, says violence against women and in particular rape in Kenya is a crime that is largely suffered in silence.

The report documents experiences of rape victims in Kenya and shows how the failure of the authorities to combat, violence against women has created a system which condones violence and protects perpetrators. Victims of gender based violence in Kenya, the report says, often face insurmountable obstacles in trying to bring perpetrators to justice. Those who do seek justice are confronted by a system that ignores, denies and even condones violence against women.

Kenyan law does not recognise marital rape as a criminal offence because of the presumption that consent to sexual intercourse is given by marriage.

Rape by police officers, prison guards and other state officials always constitutes torture. The documents report that in Kenya a large number of women in custody have been tortured, many by police officers to extract information during investigations. Women victims, the report says, face obstructions in the criminal justice system and in the lack of facilities for gathering essential medical evidence. Some courts even view any form of domestic violence as a private affair, which should be settled by village elders.

The report concludes that the government of Kenya is failing in its human rights obligations towards half of its citizens. The report urges the Kenyan government to reform both its laws and practices to end impunity for violence against women.

Le Kenya est incapable de diminuer la violence repandue contre tes femmes

Un nouveau rapport publie par Amnesty international prouve que Ia violence contre les femmes, et en particulier le viol, est un crime endure silencleusement au Kenya.

Le rapport documente les experiences des victimes de violence au Kenya et...