What is gender-based violence (GBV)?
Gender-based violence (GBV) refers to any act that is perpetrated against a person’s will and is based on gender norms and unequal power relationships. It includes any form of a non-consensual sexual act, attempts to forcefully obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, coercion, or threats of harm or physical force, by any person regardless of relationship to the survivor, in any setting, including at home and at work. Six core types of GBV include: rape, sexual assault, physical assault, forced marriage, denial of resources, opportunities or services, and psychological and emotional abuse.
Response services
GBV response services include medical treatment (ideally within 72 hours of the incident), psychosocial support, physical security, safe shelter, and legal assistance.
Security is provided to GBV survivors by the national police in collaboration with UNHCR and partners following a joint safety assessment, which may include admission into a safehouse within the camps or in urban areas for a limited period.
Other social services extended to GBV survivors include community-based peer support, mentorship programmes, provision of dignity and menstrual hygiene management kits, and livelihoods support to mitigate against further violence. All service providers working with GBV survivors must adhere to a strict code of confidentiality and apply survivor centered approaches.
How to seek help or report concerns
You can report GBV incidents at the nearest hospital or police station or at any office of UNHCR or our partners, including HIAS, the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), International Rescue Committee (IRC), the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), or any agency working with refugees that you trust.
Survivors of GBV can seek assistance from the following partners:
- 1195 – Kenya’s national GBV hotline
- 1190 – Counselling hotline
- 1517 – UNHCR toll-free help line
- 0800-720600 – Telecounselling AMANI counselling Center
- 0790781359 – Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)
- 0770451236 / 0777784009 – Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS)
- 0704-873342 – National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) health coordinator
- 1196 – Childline
- 0711400506 – Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) hotline
- 0800720121 – Liverpool Voluntary Counselling and Testing (LVCT) toll-free number
- 999 / 112 – Kenya police emergency hotline
Below are the key agency focal persons that support GBV survivors:
Department of Refugee Services (DRS)
Evans Pasua (Community-Based Protection Officer)
Tel.: 0722391379
E-mail: [email protected]
Center for Victims of Torture (CVT)
Michael K. Kamau (Psychotherapist/trainer
Tel: 0712 340 528
E-mail: [email protected]
Refugee Consortium of Kenya (RCK)
Gloria Mwangi (Program Officer, Legal Aid & Governance)
Tel: 0733 860 669 / 0720 943 164
Kituo Cha Sheria
Caroline Wanjiku Kamau (Legal officer)
Tel: 0708083388
E-mail: [email protected]
Refuge Point
Fred Ototo
Tel: 0738999270
E-mail: [email protected]
RefuShe
Joan Nyongesa (Legal and advocacy Officer)
Tel: 0710626844
E-mail: [email protected]
Coptic Hospital
David Mwenga (GBV focal-Coptic hospital)
Tel: 0720008942
E-mail: [email protected]