UN Women and its partners recently jointly published a police paper revealing a rise in Gender Based Violence in Africa since the outbreak of COVID-19; for instance the East African Community (EAC) Partner States have reported a sharp increase in the number of gender-based violence (GBV) cases. Ministries responsible for Gender across the region have reported a 48% increase in the Gender-based Violence cases reported to the Police or through the GBV Toll-Free.

Like in Kenya Sexual offences such as rape and defilement have constituted more than 35% of all reported cases. Also in Uganda at least 4,300 teenage pregnancies were registered in the first four months of the COVID-19 lockdown by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. UN Women in Tanzania is also supporting the country’s government in violence against women and children screening in reported cases of COVID-19. 

Mwanzo’s Editorial Lead, Leah Ngari, sat down with Florence Machio working with Population Action International as the Gender and campaigns specialist-Consultant Regional technical advisor. Florence says perpetrators of gender based violence in Africa are never afraid of getting caught because there is usually no incriminating evidence.