Happy Friday! We hope your day is going great. Following up on last week's #thread on Combating GBV during #COVID19. This week as part of #SexualAssaultAwarenessmonth our #thread touches on the rise of other #harmfulpractices against women during #COVID19 due to the lockdown.

This is a continuation of the conversations we have been having on how the #globalpandemic #covid19 is affecting the lives of girls and young women.

These conversations aim to ensure that we engage a #genderlens response mechanism during global pandemics ensuring the most vulnerable amongst us are not left out in the cold.

With all focus being on #COVID19, this has left leeway for harmful practices to be meted on girls and young women with almost zero repercussions.

It’s important to note that disease outbreaks affect women and men differently, and epidemics make existing inequalities for women and girls, worse. https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/COVID-19_A_Gender_Lens_Guidance_Note.pdf

History informs us that from outbreaks such as the #ebolacrisis, adolescent girls are disproportionately affected by emergencies like #Covid19.

From our #research & #constituents, we found out that due to the stress on resources as a result of #COVID19 #girls & #youngwomen are exposed to the following risks & harmful practices:
FGM,
Bidding & Forced #Earlymarriage,
GBV & other acts of #VAWG.

Young girls and women have also been exposed to the following risks & harmful practices as a result of the #Covid19 pandemic:
Lack of access to #SRHR resources
Dropping out of School
Intimate partner violence
Abuse; physical, emotional, technological, sexual.
Transactional Sex

The closure of schools, some of which serve as shelters has put girls at risk of the harmful practices highlighted above.

“The situation is not good. Girls are being forced to undergo FGM.” - says one of our constituents
With the schools closed, parents now have their daughters at home and are forcing them to undergo #FGM.

"Some girls get not only meals at school but also care packages such as sanitary towels. With the same not forthcoming anymore, some of our girls are forced to engage in transactional sex to get food and care packages." - says another constituent

@UNFPA’s E.D; Dr. @Atayeshe warned that the coronavirus outbreak has “severely disrupted” access to #SRHR & #GBV services “at a time when women and girls need these services most”. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/04/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-hit-women-harder-than-men/

As the #COVID19KE stats continue to rise, Gender advisor
to Busia County; Ms. Pascalia Makonjo, is worried about the many teenagers who are out of school following the closure of learning institutions. https://bit.ly/3cJKqCy 

So how can we support the well-being of women and girls in these trying times?
Here are some ways we can below:

In the spirit of #sisterhood, share with us any shelters near you or that you know of, where girls & young women can seek solace during this time.
DM us or fill this link below; we will keep the information confidential and only share with those in need. http://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M8QFJJ5 

Have a great Friday. We hope that you are taking the necessary precautions to keep safe and maintaining #socialdistance as much as possible.