The Office of the Women Rights Advisor is committed to reviewing and reforming laws that discriminate against women and girls in Kenya, in close collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
Presidential Advisor Hon. Chiggai Harriette said through working with Government Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, and international partners, the Office will be able to drive meaningful change and contribute to the broader goal of gender justice and women’s empowerment in Kenya.
She was speaking during roundtable discussions to better understand gaps and issues identified for reform as contained in the “Strengthening Gender Equality in Law: Mapping Discriminatory Laws Against Women and Girls in Kenya” report.
The study was sponsored by UN Women and the IDLO – International Development Law Organization working together with the Kenya Law Reform Commission (KLRC), the Law Society of Kenya – Nairobi Branch (LSK), State Law Office, FIDA Kenya, the Academia, among other partners.
The scope of the study carried out earlier focused on the key areas of discrimination against women and girls as articulated in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol.
These thematic areas include marriage and family; succession and inheritance; political and public life; labor and employment; sexual and reproductive health rights; sexual and gender-based violence; and nationality.
The study focused on analysis of national laws and relevant policies on these themes to establish the extent to which they comply, are aligned with, and promote the norms, standards and principles articulated in CEDAW and other international and regional human rights instruments.
In her speech today, Hon. Chiggai said she was ready to work with a Multi-Agency Team to address the identified nine laws or provisions needing repealing in whole or in part; the 17 other laws earmarked for revision or amendment; and the recommended new laws in seven thematic areas.
Speaking during the same function, KLRC Chairperson Christine Agimba expressed confidence the one-day discussions would foster better understanding of the gaps and the issues identified for reform in the Report.
She explained the consultative meeting was held to provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to gather further insights and make recommendations for meaningful reforms.
Hon. Senator Veronica Maina who also spoke at the roundtable review discussions, noted that documenting these discriminatory laws will enable Government to embrace reforms that promote equality.
Once reviewed, the laws will empower institutions like the Kenya Law Reform Commission and all actors in the legal, judicial and other thematic sectors, with concrete information to enable them craft targeted strategies for legal change.
This will pave the way for advocacy efforts to further empower women and girls to challenge outdated traditions and claim their rightful place in society.