KENYA: Nuns Advocate for Justice As They Celebrate International Women’s Day
Through the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya- Justice and Peace Commission, Consecrated women have risen to be the voice of the marginalized in Kenyan society as they address issues of injustice, especially those related to women and marginalized communities.
“We cannot remain ignorant and inactive in relation to socio-economic, political and cultural problems when human rights are being violated due to unjust practices, systems and structures; lack of awareness; apathy; and even self- centeredness,” states one of the founding nuns for the Justice and Peace Commission of Catholic nuns in the country.
Nuns are working practically in all remote areas of Kenya, serving the communities where Government cannot reach. These marginalized communities suffer most during the times of elections for political leaders.
As such, in 1997, Sisters living and serving in these communities felt the need to do something to bring about change. This was after long time of consecutive years of violence after each and every general election , where women and children suffered the most.
They felt the need to empower the women from the different communities to be able to voice their needs and fight for a fair and just society.
For the last 22 years Religious Sisters have been addressing issues of injustice through civic, Human Rights education and leadership training. As of now, more than 330 sisters and lay women have been trained as women peace makers; and more than 200 teachers from across the 25 dioceses of Kenya as human rights teachers.
Every year, the women and Sisters commemorate the International Women’s Day to create awareness and sensitize communities on the issues.
This year on 8 March, 2019 the women peace makers, a group of lay women and nuns trained in peace building, and women in central Kenya celebrated the Day to create awareness under the theme “Think Equal, Build Smart, Innovate for change, Justice for All”.
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Sr. Delvin Mukhwana, DHM,
The Writer is Project Coordinator for Catholic Care for Children in Kenya
