What UNUT does
UNUT FOCUSES ON
Under this program, the Trust targets rural women, men, youth and all vulnerable people in society in a bid to capacity build them about their rights. It encourages and facilitates the rescue of survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) or sexual Gender Based Violence (S/GBV) -both male and female - and assist them in the process of getting Justice for crimes committed against them.
Focus is also placed by UNUT on skill development for rural women on various agri-business ventures through conservation based agricultural practices for their economic empowerment so as to stop or reduce over reliance / over dependence on their male partners for financial support since this is perceived to be one of the main triggers of domestic violence in homes.
UNUT uses the global campaign for the 17 days of Activism (From the 1st – the 18th of October) on the empowerment of rural women and their communities as an entry point to its work under the justice and empowerment program.
The days marked during this period include: 1st October - Right to development day; 2nd October - Right to Education day; 3rd October – Right to Safe water day; 4th October – Right to Health and wellbeing day; 5th October – Right to adequate housing day; 6th October – Right to live in a clean environment day; 7th October – Right to mitigate and adopt to climate change day; 8th October – Right to economic development and autonomy day; 9th October – Right to information and communication technology day; 10th October – Right to land and inheritance day; 11th October – Right to decision making and leadership day; 12th October – Right to security, safety and an end to violence day; 13th October – Right to peace day; 14th October – Right to hold leaders accountable day; 15th October - the world rural women’s day; 16th October - world food day and 17th October - International day for the eradication of poverty.
During this time, the Trust organizes social groupings for change using the engendered sustainable livelihood for empowerment and conservation approach. These group meetings are held within the village and are accessed by as many women as can be available.
The social groupings seek to raise awareness on their rights as women and on ways to seek justice in case these rights are violated; as well as equip rural women with knowledge and skills about the best conservation farming practices that will ensure they are empowered economically; and also help identify market for agricultural produce. Further emphasizing that such is an urgent requirement to help reduce and ultimately end extreme poverty, cub hunger and eliminate discrimination in their communities.
This program works with men and boys to end violence against women.
It was formulated to target men through capacity building and training on S/GBV and Rights (since they are “perceived” to be the main perpetrators of such violence on women and girls) and to initiate strategic dialogues between them and between them and their women in a bid to understand and address various gender and rights issues affecting both genders within the societies within which they live.
At UNUT we understand that men too can be sensitive to blame. We believe that proactive communication / dialogue and positive role modelling (by men to fellow men/boys) is key when targeting men to challenge perceptions that violence is something unchangeable and prescribed by culture and traditions. We also believe that challenging toxic masculinities and misogyny as well as gradually and continuously instilling long term reform /change among men will eventually lead to positive masculinities and acceptance of equal treatment for all within our society.
The global campaign of 16 days of activism (25th November – 10th December) is used by the Trust as an entry point for its work under the Dare to Speak program. During this time, the Trust participates in resolving conflicts within the rural communities; in promoting social cohesion; in improving the governments accountability toward its citizens particularly women and girls through organizing Strategic Dialogues on S/GBV and rights.
The target is men in rural settings, who would otherwise not be able to attend formal trainings and thus create a critical mass of Kenyan men (at grass-root level) who believe in gender equality, who understand their rights and who are also able to influence communities, organizations and the public to end all forms of violence. The Trust shall continually identify, document and recruit these men as role models. These male role models shall in turn help the UNUT and other likeminded organizations reach out to other men/boys and speak to them about the importance of living in a violence free society.
This program is responsible for keeping UNUT connected and informed on the current trends within the Gender and Development sector across the country and world at large. All Staff working under this program are required to carry out all the relevant and necessary research on themes UNUT works on and shall from time to time help the trust forge alliances with likeminded organizations and the government departments at County level as well as the ministries of Gender; Environment and Agriculture at national level.
It is also be responsible for developing publications on the work of UNUT in Kenya; for publishing literature on findings and experiences of the UNUT working with men and boys to end gender violence; for telling success stories of the process to seek justice for survivors of SGBV; and for printing of Behaviour change communication materials, information, education and communication materials in form of t-shirts, caps, brochures, posters, reflector jackets etc. for distribution to communities.
Finally this program is instrumental in ensuring the work of the UNUT and that of its donors is well documented by the Kenyan print and audio media, thus it liaises with media houses to ensure constant reporting of work done by the UNUT across Kenya.
