November 29th is a day to celebrate and appreciate women who defend human rights and everyone else that defends the rights of women and girls including intersex women, transgender and LBQ (Lesbian, bisexual and queer) women.

Besides celebrating Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRD), it is also a day to recognize the statistically high rates of violence faced by WHRDs in their efforts to hold our societal structures such as government accountable in protecting the rights of women because in the process of their advocacy for women rights, they have faced and continue to face violence (sometimes fatal), harassment and wrongful imprisonment.

WHRDs are diverse; They can be us, journalists, teachers, politicians and even parents. As many of us are brought up in settings with a semblance of a family, parents or caregivers are key in protecting children from illegal practices such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Intersex Genital Mutilation (IGM), conversion therapy for Intersex, Transgender and gender diverse (ITGD) children and forced marriages to give a few examples.

Men more-so need to be at the center of creating allied support, eliminating and ending violence against women that is in large perpetuated by other fellow men towards women according to statistics.

The World Bank’s Inter-Agency Standing Committee defines GBV as an umbrella term for any form of harmful act that is perpetrated against a person’s will, and that is based on gender differences. However, due to the existing gender inequalities, women have been at the core-receiving end of this plight.

WHRDs have played an integral role in opening avenues to address violence against women. They have been bold in fighting cultural practices which ingrain patriarchal norms that fuel gender inequalities that deprive women their rights.

However, WHRDs are always at great risk to gender-based violence, threats and intimidation, physical and online harassment, imprisonment and murder. Despite all these harms, WHRDs have always remained in the frontline fighting for inclusive and accessible societies for everyone.

Historically, Transgender women HRDs globally such as Marsha P have been on the frontline of social justice in building movements and holding governments to account when it comes to their obligation to provide gender recognition in a manner that is consistent with the rights to freedom from discrimination, equal protection of the law, privacy, identity and freedom of expression and have borne the brunt of violence.

Her efforts paved way for the likes of our very own Ms. Audrey Mbugua whose efforts are attributed to the birth of the transgender movement in Kenya and created a foundation to which Jinsiangu and other Trans led organizations were built on.

Although the fight by ITGNC individuals in Kenya who identify on the spectrum of women has continued to be an excluded community, their resilience in standing up for the rights and social justice of other women has been impactful.

We commemorate all WHRDs for creating spaces for new ideas, knowledge, experiences, sharing wisdom and healing, and the trans women who have created the foundations that have birthed organizations and continue to co-build and co-create sustainable movements that advocate for ITGNC rights in Kenya.