KISII, Kenya, Mar 14- Ahead of the August polls, women aspirants have expressed fears over attacks online, disadvantaging them from effectively reaching a wider audience faster and in a more interactive manner.
Online violence against women is an explicit expression of the gender discrimination and inequality that exists offline.
In the new age, violence against women is increasingly being amplified online.
As the internet becomes an increasingly significant part of human existence and a critical space for marginalized populations to make their voices heard, a woman’s inability to feel safe online is an impediment to her freedom, as well as to her basic human rights.
Convention on Elimination in all forms of Discrimination Against Women( CEDAW ) Adapted by UN General Assembly has been ratified and adopted by 189 states world over including Kenya, yet still it remained the case that women were greatly underrepresented in politics a situation that the 2010 constitution was eager to address.
A study conducted from 2003 -2013 by United Nations Centre for Social Research and United Nations Women, revealed that about 60% of women do not participate in politics due to fear of violence. Further research by United Nations Women on violence against women in politics showed that overall, less than 40% of women who experience violence seek help of any sort globally.
82 percent of women parliamentarians across the world reported to have experienced some form of psychological violence while serving their terms and 65% of women in politics worldwide have been subjected to sexist remarks, primarily by their male colleagues, citing social media as the main channel for these violent acts against women in politics to perpetuated as a demonstration of the power and superiority of male politicians.
Ahead of the 2022 general elections, women intending to get into politics will be facing challenges targeting gendered disinformation campaigns, spreading of deceptive and inaccurate information and images.
Campaigns that will often create storylines that draw on misogyny and gender stereotypes.
A study on Violence Against Women in politics by Women’s political network in Montenegro shows that women have been antagonized with sexist hate speech across public spheres and in particular such verbal attacks against women tend to be personal and to the extreme for example a (case study of Miguna Miguna and Esther Passaris interview with Jeff Koinange) female politicians and aspirants also face prejudice, discrimination and acts of physical and psychological violence when joining or actively engaging in politics.
Female politicians are not only targeted unduly but also subjected to different forms of harassment and abuse.
Attacks targeting male politicians mostly relate to their professional duties, whereas online harassment directed at female politicians is more likely to focus on their physical appearance and sexuality and include threats of sexual violence and humiliating or sexualized imagery
Speaking to Gloria Orwoba, an aspirant for Bobasi constituency in Kisii County, she narrates how she has faced online sexual which has made her digital campaigning difficult.
“Digital tools such as Facebook and WhatsApp which are mostly used by a number of people are the harshest environment for politicians and particularly women compared to physical meetings when reaching out to the electorates and conveying your manifesto as a leader if elected,” said Ms Orwoba.
She narrates that her opponents use bloggers to spread propaganda, hate speech or even misinform electorates as a scaring tactic for her to back down her bid.
She says, at one point she was threatened to be raped if she dares to visit the constituency saying she should go contest for the women’s representative seat.
She says this time the youth who are allied to her opponents have actively participated in different online platforms to campaign for their candidates and at the same time abuse the opponents.
According to Gloria, WhatsApp is the most used platform which includes a number of people coming from her constituency and this is where all the abuses are channeled against her.
“Violence against women in politics is not only limited to online platforms but including in social gatherings where she has been confronted not once to scare her drop her bid,” she noted.
She says it’s challenging in dealing with her opponents and above all, she has decided to put on a thick skin and concentrate on her political career.
Gladys Aunga Women Rep aspirant Kisii County says online violence is rampant during elections time and she has been a victim every time she declares her bid.
She says online violence has an influence in rigging out genuine candidates from getting free and fair nominations because they are women.
Aunga recalls an incident where she was attacked on several WhatsApp groups over an opinion she gave, where everybody attacked her and others went ahead getting into inbox to hurl abuses at her.
“This didn’t stop here, some went ahead to physical abuse during a rally and even attacked me in the presence of Deputy President William Ruto at Nyaribari Masaba,”said Aunga
Kisii County Police Commander Francis Kooli says online violence cases are anticipated to shoot high during this electioneering period and the violence may move to physical.
He noted some of the victims fear reporting the incidents dreading their lives might get endangered more and result to physical harm. He added when such cases are reported, it’s the work of the police to give such victims protection.
“Intimidation, threats, and violence surrounding democratic processes and participation in governance, including digital violence infringes people’s rights like any other violence related to politics, “he added.
Chief Executive Officer at the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights Dr. Benard Mogesa says use of the internet has worsened hate speech, especially towards the 2022 general election.
“Fake news is spread to viewers who have no sufficient means to verify such information. WhatsApp groups have become an avenue for spreading unverified information. Use of unprintable messages in social media targeting one’s gender and ethnicity are common,” says KNCHR CEO.
He says, despite the presence of a protection mechanism against hate speech, legal frameworks and the enforcement of the law is very minimal.
–Social media monitoring-
High court advocate George Morara says if VAWIP is propagated through social media, and since such happens very fast and such attacks often tend to go viral then various authorities such as the Communication Authority of Kenya should monitor in a bid to curtail and stop these online acts of violence against women and such monitoring be done with respect to the privacy of the data belonging to individuals, with full regard to human rights.
“By creating and advocating against VAWIP such would enable the victims of VAWIP break silence and also allow and provide the channel through which this issue will be addressed at the national level, “says Morara.
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