Usanii

Murder 'followed Facebook change'

2009-09-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

A mother-of-four was murdered by her partner days after she changed her Facebook status from "married" to "single", a court has heard.Hayley Jones, 26, was found by her children at the family home. She had been fatally stabbed.

Cardiff Crown Court heard that Brian Lewis, 31, killed her after telling friends he could not stand to lose her to another man.

Mr Lewis, of New Tredegar, Caerphilly, denies murder.

The prosecution claims Mr Lewis strangled and stabbed his partner at their home in the Phillipstown area of the town on 12 March.

On 2 March, she changed her Facebook relationship status from married to single and she made it clear their relationship was over

Mark Evans, prosecuting

Mark Evans, prosecuting, told the court the couple, who were not married, had been "teenage sweethearts" since Ms Jones was 13, and had described themselves as married.

He said: "Hayley started to expand her social life and was spending a lot of time on internet sites, in particular Facebook.

"She was quite secretive about this, preventing Lewis from using the site and turning the computer off. It is quite clear this rankled with him.

"On 2 March, she changed her Facebook relationship status from married to single and she made it clear their relationship was over."

The court heard that after Mr Lewis lost his job, creating a downward spiral on the family finances, Ms Jones took up work as a care assistant.

Ms Jones was described as a "devoted mother" to the couple's four children, aged between three and 10.

Kitchen knife

The jury was told that Mr Lewis feared their relationship was on the rocks because of the time she spent online.

The court heard Mr Lewis had threatened to kill his partner rather than lose her to another man.

Mr Evans added: "But Lewis told police the only tension between him and Hayley was the use of the home computer."

The court heard Mr Lewis attacked Ms Jones with a kitchen knife at 0400 GMT as she was sleeping on the settee at their home, stabbing her through three layers of clothing and two sleeping bags.

He then dialled 999 and told police to come to the house but fled the scene, leaving the couple's four children to find their mother's body.

Mr Lewis later gave himself up at Blackwood Police Station, the court heard.

The trial continues.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

This is Totally Unacceptable!!

2009-08-10T01:35:00.000-07:00

Police beat 85 years old African American grandmother down like a worthless silly dog... f you are deaf, dumb, and blind to what's happening in the world, you're under no obligation to do anything. But if you know what's happening and you don't do anything,then you must be insane.

!!check it out!!

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Defence of police rapists by Nyanza PC should be taken as a serious violation of The rights of Women in society.

2009-06-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

Kenya rights groups on Tuesday reacted angrily to remarks attributed to Nyanza provincial commissioner that seem to justify rape of women by policemen Led by executive director of the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, Ms Anne Njogu, the activists called for the resignation of PC Paul Olando for allegedly defending rapists in the police. He is said to have made the remarks during his Madaraka Day address in Kisumu. Mr Olando was on Tuesday quoted in a section of the press arguing that male police officers stayed away from their spouses for long and were, therefore, likely to rape. He also appeared to say the rape of one woman by a policeman is better than leaving residents at the mercy of criminal gangs. The women activists accused him of irresponsibly fuelling gender-based violence in the country. “The remarks were outrageous and amounted to justifying the violation of women’s rights. The least the PC could do is to apologise and resign from his post,” said Ms Njogu. The women, who spoke ahead of a three-day gender festival that starts on Wednesday at the Railways Club, Nairobi, feared that the veiled defence of police rapists amounted to an official expression of unwillingness to end gender-based violence.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Sharon Chepkirui's Odeal

2009-05-30T01:10:00.000-07:00

This statement by TABITHA NJOROGE is an example of how our sisters are suffering..

Please read as she explains Sharon Chepkirui's Odeal.

"On Saturday the 23rd of this month as l read Saturday Nation newspaper, l came across a story done by Kwamchetsi about a lady whose nose and ears were chopped by her husband after a domestic quarrel. I was very disheartened and disturbed and was compiled to find out the details of the story and the state of that lady.
I went to COVAW on Monday and spoke to one of the officers there by the name of Carol Waiganjo who gave me the shocking details of the battered lady.
Sharon Chepkiru i(20yrs old) was brought to Nairobi 3 weeks ago from Kericho to Nereo Chepkorir to work for her as a househelp. Nereo was shocked to see the state that Sharon was in and kept her in her house until last week when she took her to COVAW to seek any assistance for Sharon, since she is in bad health and can’t even work and has nowhere else to go.
From Carol’s interview with both Sharon and Nereo, Carol was able to establish that Sharon was battered by her husband in March last year. She was taken to Kericho general hospital by good Samaritans where they only gave her fast aid, the wounds have since healed, though she looks terrible and needs reconstructive surgery that will cost Ksh: 200,000 at Kenyatta hospital. She has lost her self esteem because she ties a head scarf quite low near her nose to hide the scars and she keeps looking down as she doesn’t want people looking at her, she doesn’t speak much as it was Nereo who was speaking for her. All she had to say to Carol was “Hi mambo tumezoea na ni kawaida” which means she as reconciled to domestic sexual violence and accepts it as normal. One question am left wondering is could it be that domestic violence in Kericho is more rampant? Sharon’s husband was arrested then and has since been released and he is a free man, probably now married to another woman who he is likely to assault or is already assaulting.
Carol could only give me Nereo’s cell number to try reach Sharon, l have tried calling that number continuously but it’s off since yesterday. I will keep calling it till l find them and l also left my contact at COVAW just incase Nereo and Sharon shows up again.
I will keep you all update on this case because l must see and find ways of helping Sharon. She also needs counseling. Anybody in this forum who can offer Sharon counseling services?
I will also pick up Sharon’s husband case with FIDA to follow-up. Justice must prevail."

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Donate to Save Sharon Chepkirui - the lady without a nose and ears

2009-05-29T23:58:00.000-07:00

1. Her nose and ears were chopped by her husband after a domestic quarrel

2. 20 year old Sharon was locked in her house until last week when a well wisher rescued her.

3. She looks terrible and needs reconstructive surgery that will cost Ksh: 200,000 at Kenyatta hospital.

LEARN MORE AND HELP HER

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Girl bleeds to death after undergoing FGM

2009-04-14T05:02:00.000-07:00

We can save our beloved daughters.

A woman was yesterday arrested after her seven-year-old daughter bled to death after female circumcision.

It is female circumcision season in Wajir District, despite concerted efforts to discourage the practice.

"She was brought to the hospital more than 24 hours after circumcision. By then it was too late to save her life," said Mrs Ardo Mohammed, a nurse.

She said the girl underwent infibulation, the worst form of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) common in North Eastern Province.

Police intercepted family members planning to bury the girl. An elderly circumciser was also arrested after a brief search.

Deputy OCPD Job Lesinayu said they would be charged with murder.

But relatives want the two released, arguing the death was pre-ordained.

Ritual’s defence

"No parent would want to see her child die. At least the police should allow her to mourn her daughter," a former councillor, Mr Kunow Ibrahim, said.

It has also emerged that the child was among three girls cut by the circumciser.

And the tragedy has not dampened the cultural mood with scores of other girls facing the knife.

Elsewhere, an estimated 85 per cent of the more than 100 girls who underwent the rite in December, last year in Kuria District have dropped out of school and forced into marriages.

Local anti-FGM campaigners, led by Maendeleo Ya Wanawake branch chairperson Beatrice Robi, yesterday criticised parents for allowing their daughters to be married early.

Outdated practice

Speaking during the burial of Elkana Tolo, father of The Standard Senior Online Editor, Dan Okoth in Rongo, Ms Robi attributed early marriages to poverty and outdated cultural practices.

Tolo, a pioneer teacher and church leader, died early this month, after an illness and was buried at his Kodero Bara home.

Robi said the drop-out rate was alarming and would affect the education of girls in the region.

"We have carried out a survey and found that 85 per cent of the girls have been married off. This is wrong," she said.

She also told The Standard they had compiled a list of the affected girls, and would hold a workshop to sensitise parents against the rite.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

2009-04-13T04:57:00.000-07:00

Bilhah Mugotista said:

women shall be women!!not less than all the other mortal men.beings of equal level aqumen,with lofty,laudable mien!!!!!!!

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

SWEETEST THING SOUREST

2009-04-11T04:20:00.000-07:00

For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds,
Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds.

Those who come easily to send others into prison,
To make people tied down to roots with no reason.

To them the cut is sweet yet to her sourest is their deed,
Traditions beautiful like a lilly yet they smell like a weed.

Most of the unlucky roses will bleed to death,
And this makes me lose a lot of breath.

Do they know that a rose is naturally beautiful?
Why then trim its bud making it awful?

Even the eagle is very sharp but can’t be human,
These people are very human but act inhuman.

There is need for affirmative action,
Legal practitioners should move into action.

These mutilators are seasoned parents too,
They shouldn’t care and should be hanged into the loo.

And help save the voiceless,
Who rapidly are becoming lifeless.

So that the roses smile again,
Because away they will be from pain.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

How struggle for power influences Violence Against Women

2009-04-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

All types of Violence against Women, stem from unequal power relations between women and men. VAW is used as a means of controlling and curbing women’s autonomy and sexual behavior, and is perpetuated by gender norms that mediate expectations regarding the roles women and men are supposed to play in the family, community and society at large. Gender norms also define the parameters of acceptable behavior between boys and girls and men and women in the family, community and society within a given culture. In situations of conflict, violence against women is often employed as a tool of war to humiliate and demoralize the enemy.

As Change agents,we have to realize this and help the society we live in understand that Women are not enemies of Men,Women are partners and we have to support them if men are to remain the House hold leaders because behind every successful man their is a woman,behind every prospering nation there are caring women and last but not least for us to have a developed peaceful world,women must be protected.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

There are many forms of violence against women, they may be;

2009-04-02T03:37:00.000-07:00

- Sexual physical, or emotional abuse by an intimate partner.

-Physical or sexual abuse by family members or others

-Sexual harassment and abuse by authority figures (such as teachers, police officers or employers)

-Trafficking for forced labour or sex.

-Traditional practices such as Female Genital Mutilation,forced or child marriages e.t.c.

FGM

-Dowry-related violence.

-Honour killings;when women are murdered in the name of family honour.

-Systematic sexual abuse in conflict situations is another form of violence against women a good example is the recent post election violence.

A woman in a Post election violence situation

ABOUT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of human rights.
A lack of access to education and opportunity, and low social status in communities are linked to violence against women.
Violence by an intimate partner is one of the most common forms of violence against women.
A wide range of physical, mental, sexual and reproductive, and maternal health problems can result from violence against women.
Many women do not seek help or report their experiences when violence occurs

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

Stop Violence Against Women

2009-03-31T10:22:00.000-07:00

Violence against women is any act of gender-based violence that results in, or may result in, physical, sexual or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life.

WE CAN END ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN