Ms. Dianah Kamande is the founder of Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization (CTWOO) and the author of the book Scars of Honour. The book is based on her real-life story of how she underwent Gender Based violence where her husband of 10 years tried to kill her together with their two children. The ordeal not only left her widowed but also with scars from a murderer’s sword. In the book she explains how she struggled through healing and reconstructed her life to become a champion of the rights of widows, orphans and women going through Gender Based Violence.

During the book launch all survivors of Gender based violence who have been invited from different parts of the country will be given a slot to speak on how they underwent violence and overcame.

OBJECTIVES OF THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM EVENT- SCARS OF HONOUR BOOK LAUNCH

The book – Scars of Honour will be launched during the 16 days of activism as an act of advocacy on ending violence against women and girls which is in line with the 16 days of activism theme 2021 “end violence against women and girls now!”

1. Creating awareness to let women and girls know about all forms of Gender Based violence there is so as they can confidently speak against it.
2. Raise awareness on the Toll-free Numbers and safe houses where the victims of Gender Based Violence can seek help.
3. Create awareness on other organizations that assist in fighting Gender Based Violence such as Health Assistance Kenya, Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development organization and Center for Rights Education and Awareness.

OUTCOME

1. The launch will bring together participants from all over the country who will help disseminate the gathered information on Gender Based Violence and how to stop it and this will help to reach and make a lot of impact on the grassroot level.
2. Through the coordinator of POLICARE Madam Zipporah Nderitu the participants will be empowered with the knowledge of the National Police Service integrated response to Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in Kenya. This will help them understand that the police do care and they should not be scared of them.
3. Having POLICARE on board will help the participants present to understand the role of duty bearers such as the police who offer P3 forms and are at times expected to appear as witnesses in court.
4. Through FIDA-K the participants will get the know-how of where to seek justice and shelter whenever their rights are violated. The participants will also get to understand of how FIDA-K promotes women’s individual and collective power to claim their rights in all spheres of life.
5. Through Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) and Uwezo Fund the participants will be impacted with the knowledge of the Government Affirmative Funds that they can apply as loans and be economically empowered.

By having the invited survivors of Gender Based Violence share their experiences it will encourage other participants going through Gender Based Violence in silence to also speak out