The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) have urged the government to enforce stricter laws to end forced marriages in the country.
Their calls for action follow the tragic murder of 17-year-old Gaal Adan Abdi, a refugee girl who was forced to marry a 55-year-old man. She endured severe abuse before being brutally killed, and her body was burned beyond recognition.
In statements released on Thursday, March 27, NGEC and KEWOPA strongly condemned the horrific incident and demanded that security agencies conduct thorough investigations to bring those responsible to justice.
Call for Justice and Support for GBV Survivors
The two organizations also called on the government to provide medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors of forced marriages and gender-based violence (GBV).
NGEC Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa emphasized that the abuse and murder of the young girl were not only grave violations of human and children’s rights but also a clear indication of the growing gender-based violence crisis in Kenya.
She urged the government to ensure that all individuals, including refugees, are protected from such heinous acts, as required by international human rights and refugee conventions.
“We demand a swift and thorough investigation into Gaal’s murder to ensure that those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Jaldesa stated.
She further stressed the importance of enforcing laws against forced marriages, providing necessary support services to survivors, and increasing public awareness campaigns to prevent GBV.
The Need to Eradicate Harmful Cultural Practices
KEWOPA Chairperson Leah Sankaire also condemned the incident, calling for a nationwide effort to dismantle harmful cultural practices that subject women and girls to violence.
She highlighted the crucial role of community leaders, policymakers, and government agencies in changing societal attitudes that allow such injustices to continue.
“As KEWOPA, we urge all stakeholders to work together to ensure justice is served and to put long-term measures in place to prevent such incidents in the future,” Sankaire stated.
The Victim’s Final Cry for Help
Before her tragic death, Adan had sent several emotional voice messages to her mother, detailing the severe physical abuse she endured at the hands of both her husband and his relatives.
She pleaded to be allowed to leave the marriage, saying she preferred to return to the refugee camp where she had previously lived.
Moments before she was killed, Adan informed her mother that her abusers were taking away her phone, cutting off her ability to communicate.
Shortly after, her mother received a heartbreaking message—she was told there was no need to visit her daughter anymore because she had been murdered.
Urgent Action Needed
The brutal killing of Adan has sparked outrage across the country, with many calling for immediate government action to prevent similar tragedies.
Leaders and human rights groups have emphasized the need for stricter enforcement of laws against child and forced marriages, alongside community education efforts to eliminate harmful practices.
NGEC, KEWOPA, and other rights organizations are now pushing for justice, ensuring that Adan’s death serves as a turning point in the fight against gender-based violence in Kenya.
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