THE HAK Gender Based Violence (GBV) 24/7 RAPID RESPONSE CALL CENTRE

• Healthcare Assistance Kenya’s (HAK) GBV Rapid Response Call Centre and Helpline 1195 are important communication links to victims of Gender Based Violence who suffer Rape, Defilement, Femicide, Female Genital Mutilation, Physical Assault, Child Abuse, Damage to property, Denial of Resources, Psychological Torture etc. It is a significant source of contact for families and the public requesting information on Gender Violence and support services i.e. tele-counseling and the primary contact point for responding to GBV. The Call Center centrally manages all calls coming through the national GBV Toll-Free Helpline 1195 to HAKs GBV Rapid Response Call Centre that is manned by a dedicated team of Tele-Counsellors

  For effective operationalization of the GBV Call centre, HAK developed Standard Operating Procedures as a guiding tool.

• HAKs SOP Mission:

  Online or Technology-facilitated Gender-Based Violence is a form of gender injustice and discrimination that takes place in online spaces. This type of Gender Based Violence (GBV) can include stalking, harassment, bullying, and unsolicited pornography, among other action

• LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK:

  HAK is guided by the following instruments when executing its mandate.This enhances survivors’ understanding on protection against violence.

• Constitution

  
  a). Revised National Policy for Prevention of and Response to GBV, 2024
  b). Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, 2015
  c). Sexual Offences Act,2006
  d). Data Protection Act,2019
  e). Computer misuse and Cybercrimes Act,2018
  f). Penal Code
  g). Children Act 2022
  h). Anti-FGM Act, 2011

• International instruments

  
  a). Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
  b). Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

• Regional Instruments

  
  a). African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR)
  b). Maputo Protocol
  c). African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa
  d). African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

• PART A: Gender Based Violence in crisis such as Election Conflicts, Ethnic Clashes, Drought, Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Violence against Women and Girls

• Q. What Is Online Gender-Based Violence?

  Ans. Online or Technology-facilitated Gender-Based Violence is a form of gender injustice and discrimination that takes place in online spaces. This type of Gender Based Violence (GBV) can include stalking, harassment, bullying, and unsolicited pornography, among other action

• Q. What is Gender-Based Violence on social media?

  Ans. Online Gender-Based Violence can include unwanted sexual remarks, non-consensual posting of sexual media, threats, doxing, cyberstalking and harassment, and Gender-Based discriminatory memes and posts among other things.

• Q. What are the 7 types of Gender Based Violence?

  Ans. The 7 types of Gender Based Violence (GBV) are classified as
  a). Physical violence.
  b). Verbal violence.
  c). Psychological violence.
  d). Sexual violence.
  e). Socio-economic violence.
  f). Domestic violence or in intimate relationships.
  g). Harassment and sexual harassment.

• Q. What causes gender-based violence?

  Ans. Gender based violence are as a result of the following
  a). Cultural factors.
  b). Legal factors.
  c). Economic factors.
  d). Political factors.

• Q. What are the causes of Gender-Based Violence in Kenya?

  Ans. Drivers of Gender Based Violence (GBV): There are certain factors that contribute to the vulnerability of women and girls to be subjected to Gender Based Violence such as poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, alcohol and substance abuse.

• Q. What are the 4 main areas of abuse?

  Ans. Most States recognize four major types of maltreatment: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Additionally, many States identify abandonment, parental substance use, and human trafficking as abuse or neglect.

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