Problem assesment
The risk of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) remains a significant challenge in the protection of women and children in Kakuma. In 2012 a total of 330 SGBV cases were reported and provided with minimum support. The most common forms of SGBV were rape, physical assault, and psychological and emotional abuse. The occurrence of these protection concerns was largely caused by insufficient basic services provided to refugees in the camp. As long as shelter, domestic energy, livelihood opportunities, food rations, security, and basic domestic items are inadequate, refugee women will continue to face risks of gender-based violence, negatively affecting their rights, health, dignity, emotional well-being, and resilience. The support provided to respond to the specific needs of survivors of SGBV – medical treatment, legal assistance, psycho-social counseling, and security measures – was inadequate to address the scale of the problem and to safeguard rights and best interests.
In the course of 2012, refugees, especially new arrivals, were increasingly vulnerable to the risk of SGBV due to lack of information on the entitlements and services provided in the camp. Limited income-generating opportunities and inadequate funding for services such as shelter, basic domestic items, and firewood compelled refugees to engage in risky economic activities, including survival sex and illegal alcohol brewing, as coping mechanisms. Single women, unaccompanied minors (especially those living in child-headed households), LGBTI refugees, and children and women from vulnerable families were most at risk of SGBV. The situation is likely to deteriorate due to a host of challenges linked to limited funding for the implementation of programmes to address the needs of the growing population.
Comprehensive response
With full implementation of this objective in 2014, UNHCR will ensure that 80 per cent of known SGBV survivors receive a wide range of support including timely medical treatment, psycho-social counseling, security provisions, and legal assistance. This will be achieved by mainstreaming previous activities in the areas of SGBV into the annual programming. UNHCR will build the capacity of the community to prevent and respond to SGBV through training and mass awareness, and will also further develop the strategy for male involvement in SGBV response and prevention. The operation will initiate income-generating activities for survivors and other vulnerable women and will rehabilitate the perpetrators of SGBV as well. These interventions, complimented with the comprehensive implementation of other objectives such as shelter, basic domestic and hygiene items, firewood, and livelihoods, will positively impact the living standards of vulnerable groups and reduce the risk of SGBV in the camp.