Thread by @kavsmaina

Sexual violence is a serious public health and human rights concern in Kenya with adverse physical and psycho-social consequences. Kenya needs to implement interventions that will comprehensively address the needs of Survivors.
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Rights belong to individuals and are not granted by the state. Human rights are entitlements that human beings have. Our Bill of Rights is the framework for social, economic & cultural policies.
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The purpose of recognizing and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms is to preserve the dignity of the individual and communities and to promote social justice and the realization of potential of all human beings.

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The State shall take legislative, policy and other measures including the setting of standard to achieve the progressive realization of the rights guaranteed under Article 43. These are the rights we want implemented for survivors of sexual violence.

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Every person has the right to institute court proceedings when a fundamental right has been denied, violated, threatened or infringed. No fee may be charged for commencing the proceedings in court.

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The Court, while observing the rules of natural justice, shall not be unreasonably restricted by procedural technicalities when dealing with matters around fundamental freedoms.

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Sexual violence is a gross violation of an individual's rights.

How should survivors be treated?

We must amplify Survivor voices towards restoring their dignity. Each individual reacts differently to their ordeal.

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Some experience immediate psychological distress while others short/long-term psychological problems. The length of social support & counselling required varies enourmously. It depends on degree of trauma suffered and an individual's coping ability.

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Trauma counselors must have professional training. They should be members of an accredited association e.g Kenya Counselling Association, and they must apply the principles of doing good and doing no harm in counseling a Survivor.

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Main principles to adhere to while counselling Survivors;
Autonomy - informed consent & Survivor right to make decisions
Beneficence - best interests of survivor
Non- maleficience - avoid harm to Survivor
Justice/ Fairness - doing what is right by Survivor

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Protocols for counselling differ for the different groups affected by sexual violence.

When handling male Survivors, one must be aware they have the same physical & psychological responses to SV as women. They also suffer rape trauma syndrome.

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Men are however more likely to be concerned about their masculinity and societal opinions about their sexuality.

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When counselling children, recognize children rarely disclose sexual abuse immediately after the event. Disclosure tends to be a process rather than a single episode and is often initiated following a physical complaint or a change in behavior.

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For PWD’s, Counselors need to be aware that people with developmental disabilities who have been sexually violated have challenges to “work through” or talk about their traumatic experiences in a treatment or therapeutic setting.

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There are core conditions essential for a productive counselling session with Survivors are; empathy, unconditional positive regard, a non-judgmental attitude and genuineness.

We must always focus on the Survivors best interest.

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Survivors also need to always be treated with dignity and respect - support survivors with humanity, courtesy, appreciation, and recognize them as decision-makers that can make choices vis a vis their treatment and recovery.

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Survivors have a RIGHT to be attended to in a safe space and be assured of confidentiality. The room should have privacy; unauthorized people should not be able to view or hear any aspects of the consultation.

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Safety goes beyond physical integrity and expected risks and threats. It encompasses perceptions by Survivors and feeling secure in an environment that is respectful of their choices, autonomy and well-being.

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The counselor should assess the safety of the environment to which the survivor is returning in case of domestic sexual violence and give recommendations.

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Survivors should always be given sufficient time to tell their truth - recommended minimum period of trauma counselling is five sessions. The first should include stabilization, psycho-education and information on the nature and symptoms of (PTSD).

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Survivors also have a RIGHT to receive psychological and social support when giving testimonies - Explore survivor’s issues, concerns, fears and empower the survivor with information on coping mechanisms.

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Empathy is the only trait necessary in order to first listen, and then learn, believe, and act.

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To always act with the best interests of the survivor, one must analyze group dynamics around survivors, such as power structures, competition for resources, politicization of justice, intermediary motivations, gatekeepers.

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Be cognizant of influences and drivers which silence, pressurize or harm survivors and their families. Making access to justice and social & psychological support for Survivors difficult, if not impossible.

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Prioritizing survivors voices when developing interventions & their participation in decision-making are critical to ensuring the measures adopted and initiatives promoted will be respectful of their wishes and concerns and will ultimately do no harm.

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To always have meaningful survivor centered engagement, we must recognize the important role of community-based groups; they build trusted relationships & act as support systems for Survivors.

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They also empower survivors and tackling negative attitudes in the community towards survivors. Such groups can include survivor networks, organizations for women, LGBTQI+, children and PWD's.

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We can change the narrative. Knowledge leads to a change in attitude which leads to a change in practice.

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SGBV should never be rationalized, justified, normalized or accepted/ condoned.

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