Introduction
Gender inequality is a global social issue that has existed since time immemorial. These inequalities reflect a lack of respect for women’s rights in the social, economic, and cultural arena. The context of this problem varies in various countries according to the cultural background of the people. In Kenya, which is our study population, girls and women, especially in rural areas, have to continually deal with issues of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), domestic violence, and early marriages. At the same time, those in the urban areas grapple with employment discrimination and child custody issues. It is for these reasons that the Federacion Internacional de Abogadas (FIDA) initiative was introduced in Kenya in 1985, whose main objective is to promote women’s personal and collective willpower to champion for their rights in all sectors of life ().
Background
Historical information highlights various instances where women have experienced immense discrimination (UNDP, 2020). From insufficient women’s legal rights, domestic violence, and workplace discrimination, women worldwide continue to fight for their rightful position in society. In Kenya, a developing country, the situation is even worse due to the cultural, environmental, social, political, and institutional influences in society.
Due to the country’s high poverty levels, many women wallow in silence when faced with gender discrimination issues. The cultural background of the people, just like many other colored societies, paints a picture of a culture that does not champion for gender equality. Women have often been made to feel inferior to men and therefore grow up lacking channels where they can report, complain, or advocate for gender equality. In a considerable section of this society, women lack the right or privilege to decide who or when to marry, abortion matters, wife inheritance issues, FGM decisions, land inheritance, and employment rights (Kiriti & Tisdell, 2006). Additionally, the political and institutional environments have promoted inequality, as evidenced by the number of women in political or managerial positions in society, despite their qualification. This situation spurred the need for an initiative that would cater to women’s legal problems.
FIDA –Kenya is the pioneer women’s rights initiative that has existed since 1985. It was established during the Third UN Conference on Women, which was held in Nairobi, Kenya. It is a membership organization of more than 1400 women lawyers, advocates, and law students who offer free legal advice and representation to needy women in society. Over the years, members and volunteers have successfully handled various gender-related issues such as litigation on custody matters, land disputes, labor rights, political representation, sexual reproductive health matters, FGM, early and forced marriages, domestic violence, and many others (FIDA, 2020).
Additionally, the initiative offers educational programs that positively impact institutional, legal, and structural reforms in Kenya that bring about gender sensitivity and responsiveness.
Communication approach
The initiative adopts a dual communication approach that aims to create awareness and facilitate dialogue among relevant stakeholders. Some may also argue that the initiatives aim to educate in order to bring about behavioral change. All these are justifiable as the duties of FIDA-Kenya are to offer access to justice to vulnerable women, knowledge management, championing for women in governance, and institutional strengthening, and this can only succeed through properly laid out communication (FIDA, 2020). The initiative’s communication for social change channels entails using various media and communication methods to reach its audiences. The initiative operates active and engaging social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin, where information is disseminated to followers and the wider audience. FIDA also operates scheduled radio programs across the country where information about the movement is passed to listeners.
Additionally, the initiative’s communications department runs interactive blogs and vlogs, including webinars, which offer effective platforms for discussing women’s rights issues. Lawyer members are often invited to these plenaries to provide legal advice on women’s rights, which plays a significant role in disseminating information (Oloo, 2020). The initiative also shares periodic reports and briefs that provide adequate data to the government and other relevant stakeholders such as the United Nations on such issues as gender-based violence. Finally, the general public can also seek assistance and legal advice through toll-free numbers provided on the organization’s website under their media center.
Achievements
Various counties have stepped up to enact legislation and allow non-governmental organizations and individuals to provide avenues for championing women’s rights. Overall, among other initiatives in Kenya, FIDA-Kenya has been able to offer free legal aid to more than 3 million women and their children since its conception (FIDA, 2020).
First, the initiative plays a significant role in the political arena. It engages with the government and other relevant bodies to champion laws that support women’s rights. This includes the Gender Bill that highlights the two-thirds gender rule. Article 81b of the Kenyan constitution states that “Not more than two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.” (FIDA, Global Initiative, 2012) Together with other stakeholders, FIDA-Kenya continues to push for the abidance of this rule. Evidence indicates that this move has achieved success. Kenya’s constitution has now provided 47 elective seats for women into the National Assembly, 16 women nominations by political parties, and women representation for youths and persons with disabilities (Bwisa, 2019).
Secondly, FIDA-Kenya is an accredited member of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and various other bodies. This allows the initiative to submit periodic reports to these agencies that engage in joint advocacy for women’s rights. As a result, the initiative receives funding from these agencies, which helps sustain their initiatives.
Additionally, FIDA-Kenya has successfully rolled out several community-based programs that help in achieving its course. These grassroots programs assist the initiative to gather cases from villages in Kenya where help is least available. As a result, even the less fortunate have found a source of support which lacked in the past.
In general, the initiative has successfully offered legal services to women in Kenya who face various gender inequality issues. Women have regained stolen land, access financial services, gained political and managerial power, avoided forced marriages and FGM, and reduced domestic violence cases. These achievements would not have been met without FIDA-Kenya (AUDA-NEPAD, 2017).
Discussion
FIDA-Kenya’s communication approach has helped create a society that respects and validates women’s rights in different spheres of life. However, the initiative lacks the power to change the system solely and rely on the government’s goodwill and support from like-minded individuals and bodies to attain their goals. This study also highlights that the affected society’s cultural background plays a significant role in influencing the success of the initiative’s efforts.
This initiative adopts a feminist approach that aims to secure legal equality for women. FIDA-Kenya’s method can be explained by both the Marxists and Radical Feminists as it seeks to create change in the social, economic, and cultural spheres of women’s existence (Ranjan, 2019).
Conclusion
In conclusion, gender inequality is a social problem that continues to exist in our society. However, thanks to initiatives such as FIDA-Kenya that see the need to push for women’s rights, great strides have been made. Working through CBO’s and other individuals’ networks, the initiative has managed to reach clients throughout Kenya. It has made a significant contribution to the creation and enactment of various gender based laws.