Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07NAIROBI4248
2007-10-30 10:11:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Nairobi
Cable title:
KENYA ELECTIONS: UNIFEM ROLLS OUT GENDER RAPID RESPONSE
how-toVZCZCXRO2731 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHNR #4248 3031011 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301011Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY NAIROBI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3167 RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 9633 RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM 5542 RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI 4898 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2348 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 1606 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 2441 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 2368 RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RHMFIUU/CJTF HOA
UNCLAS NAIROBI 004248
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL KCOR KE
SUBJECT: KENYA ELECTIONS: UNIFEM ROLLS OUT GENDER RAPID RESPONSE
UNIT TO COUNTER VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CANDIDATES
REF: A. NAIROBI 4234
¶B. NAIROBI 3675
¶C. NAIROBI 1669
(U) On 18 October, UNIFEM launched a Gender Rapid Response Unit
(GRRU) to assist
women who are subjected to physical violence or intimidation as a
result of
their political activities. The stand up of the GRRU is a response
to a spate
of physical attacks and intimidation aimed at women candidates for
party
nomination races and eventual parliamentary races for the upcoming
general
elections (reftels A and B). GRRU will provide referral services to
victims for
medical attention, psycho-social counseling, and provide legal
assistance to
institute legal proceedings against perpetrators of violence or
intimidation.
To the disappointment of some women candidates, GRRU will not offer
direct
candidate security services, but has offered to provide training to
candidates?
security personnel. Although the USG is not directly funding this
program, all
USG election activities take into account other donors? programs so
as to
achieve the desired outcome: free, transparent, and peaceful
elections (reftel
C).
RANNEBERGER