Paper presented by: Dolphine M. A Okech, Executive Director & Programmes Coordinator.
Kenya Female Advisory Organization (KEFEADO)
DATE : 29/09/09
VENUE : Hilton Hotel
EVENT : EASHRI-UHAI-Organized Conference
Background Information
• Sexual Identity and human Rights Debate is a Reproductive Health project which KEFEADO is implementing in boarding schools in Kisumu East, Kisumu West, Siaya, Bondo and Nyando districts of Nyanza province in Western Kenya .
• Issues of sexuality are kept silent in most societies and are taboo in many families and communities. It is worse in Western Kenya region. Because of the sensitivity of the project and the context of implementation, the intervention was preceded by a very comprehensive baseline survey study in 2008 March and April which involved thirty one high schools and their communities in the baseline tools pretesting stage, and thereafter engaged eleven high schools in the districts indicated in parts of this paper.
• The study targeted students, teachers, schools' managers, community members and religious leaders and sought their opinions and input in the LGBT as a sexuality issue and a reproductive health matter. The responses to the questions posed were very varied but provided a solid foundation for the project we are implementing now.
• The validation of the data collected, confirmed the target beneficiaries willingness to break the silence on homosexuality and lesbianism subject and to use human rights based approaches in handling same sex relationship issues. This societal acceptance gave KEFEADO the stimulus to get ahead with the long term intervention using very innovative approaches with a lot of tact.
• KEFEDO uses human rights framework as a learning point and a basis for helping learning institutions to think out of their gender ,traditional and cultural boxes when handling same sex inclined students.
• We are aware of the existence of other theories including the Feminist theory which offers insights into understanding gender identity, sexuality and their linkages to reproductive health struggles. However we want to take one step at a time with a focus on Students in boarding schools.
• This is the reason why this paper limits itself to LGB because “T” part of it is currently beyond the scope of the project. However we are prepared to explore the other existing frame works which would contribute to the goal of sexual identity and human rights project.
Why sexual Identity and Human Rights?
• KEFEADO's engagement in LGB project is informed by many years of interventions targeting schools in western Kenya region, many years of work with community members and years of consultation with students and teachers on issues of gay and lesbianism.
• Engagement in ensuring that the voice of reason prevails and dignity assured when handling same sex inclined students by school administrators and the guidance and counseling departments was an issue of concern for KEFEADO, an organization whose vision is a violence free society.
• The public ridicule which same sex inclined students are exposed to by teachers and fellow students as confirmed by base line study results and previous reports from students made it Impossible for KEFEADO to sit and simply watch.
• These reports indicated serious violence among students themselves whenever they felt betrayed by their colleagues, while other reports implied that there is invisible bullying, coercion and peer pressure for new students to join the rest of the students who are already in same sex relationships.
• This starts from the day of admission after which the whole issue is kept confidential for fear of heavy punishment by teachers, public ridicule in school assemblies by fellow students instigated by the guidance and counseling teachers, followed by expulsion from schools by the board management and finally ex- communication from the family by the conservative parents.
• As a human rights based organization, we designed an intervention that would promote reason, and which will contribute to tolerance, and knowledge backed guidance and ethical handling of diversity issues at school levels including upholding confidentiality principles by the guidance and counseling teachers who are trusted by same sex inclined students and who are expected to observe confidentiality clause in counseling services.
• Sexual identity and sexual choices are human right issues and no amount of intimidation and abuse by school administrators and the society will change the situation, this is KEFEADO's belief and as an organization we have a responsibility to intervene
• This responsibility informs the goal of SIHR which is “a more tolerant and informed society which provides space for gender and sexual diversity”.
• KEFEADO has a broad objective which aims at providing knowledge backed comprehensive information on LGBT based on research and lived experiences.
• The result of this objective is to see reduced number of young people who are pressurized ,coerced ,lured, influenced or bullied by fellow students to indulge in same sex relationship from un informed basis.
• Further results include professional and ethical handling of students who are struggling with their gender and sexual identity reduced punishment and suspension from schools instead teachers and parents ,will be able to listen deeper than the behavior they see and offer support to such sons/daughters or students as need arises.
• The results will provide space for gender and sexual diversity free of stigma or discrimination on the basis of personal values, attitudes, beliefs and traditions.
• This will also ensure quality education, ethical clinical counseling skills by guidance and counseling teachers and better counseling and rehabilitation methods at both schools and family levels.
• Lastly KEFEADO'S intervention strategies are aimed at breaking the loud silence on sexuality and LGB issues, bringing its discussion in the public domain and helping members of the society living in denial to come out from their “cocoons”.
• We believe that, although this subject is very sensitive in Kenya and in many other countries, what keeps stigma and discrimination thriving is the secrecracy with which it is treated.
This project is very relevant particularly in Western Kenya region where sexuality and diversity in relation to LGB are taboo subjects.
• KEFEADO has already got various stake holders talking and giving the project their support, project schools have become more informed and tolerant, students are already empowered and discussing LGB issues openly, religious leaders and schools board of management have all agreed that animosity and abuse of rights is not a solution but rather the understanding ,provision of space and providing accurate information on LGB is the option for ensuring rights based approaches to issues of LGB in our society and in our learning institutions
• The opening up and support for the project has been as a result of public debates which engaged various stakeholders in different sessions ,this included students from the pilot project schools which have not been selected on the basis of same sex practices, but on proactive response and acceptance to be part of this project.
• Other stake holders who have been involved in these debates include priests and pastors from mainstream religion,Muslims,traditional leaders, school managers, administrators and teachers.
• The debates are unstructured but guided by themes for each session and an example of a theme can be “Same Sex Relations in our schools and families” what are your views?
• The debates are usually preceded by an expert presentation on the subject, before plenary discussion by the participants guided by a moderator.
• During such sessions all views are accepted ,all manner of reference s to the bible ,culture, traditions are allowed ,discussed and analyzed but by the end of each session the participants usually agree that sexual choices are rights which can not be curtailed by personal values but require ,proper guidance and counseling for students who are struggling in the context of a set of social values.
• The approach to opening up members of the society and learning institutions population to appreciate diversity in sexuality and gender identity by KEFEADO is supported by the Ministry of Education at the provincial and district Levels where the project covers.
• The strategic plan developed, participatorly with beneficiary groups has spelt out the need for ethical approaches to the LGB-issues in target schools and communities.
• We have already developed and printed leaflets, brochures, and handbills for dissemination of information but we also continue to use electronic media in local vernacular to reach out to more members of the society.
• KEFEADO believes that when this subject is handled well, it will create room for open sexuality and sexual rights education without undue inhibitions.
• This will allow for informed choices to be made by individuals and will provide more room, clear understanding of some of the challenges and struggles which keep same sex relationships a silent issue in many countries of the world.
Who knows? Probably such debates may influence the contents of the Kenyan constitutional review in terms of making LGB legal in Kenya .
