Regional leaders unite to strengthen fight against sexual and gender-based violence

Senior law enforcement and prosecutorial leaders from across East Africa came together for the Second Joint Roundtable of Directors of Public Prosecutions (DPPs) and Inspectors General (IGs), reaffirming their united front in the fight against sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), a growing crisis that transcends borders and demands a coordinated regional response.

In his keynote address, Kenya’s Director of Public Prosecutions, Renson Ingonga, highlighted the urgency and significance of the meeting, which builds on the foundation laid during the first roundtable in February 2025. “Your presence reflects our collective commitment to tackling the most urgent and devastating forms of violence within our region,” he stated.

The roundtable brought together key justice sector stakeholders to develop unified strategies and enhance cross-border cooperation. Central to the discussions were five core recommendations aimed at creating a consistent, survivor-centered, and regionally integrated approach to SGBV. These include: Developing a Regional SGBV Strategy tailored to each country’s context, establishing joint investigation teams and promoting mutual legal cooperation, Institutionalizing trauma-informed, victim-centered justice systems, advocating for specialized SGBV courts and continuous cross-sector training, creating an Integrated Regional Database of Convicted Sexual Offenders to close jurisdictional gaps and improve accountability.

 Leaders agreed that addressing SGBV requires more than policy—it demands action. Calls were renewed for measurable outcomes, timelines, and institutional commitments to ensure meaningful change.

“The high prevalence of SGBV erodes trust, undermines justice, and destroys the dignity of victims,” said Ingonga. He urged the formal integration of anti-SGBV initiatives within professional bodies such as the Eastern Africa Association of Prosecutors and the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation (EAPCO) to ensure sustained momentum.

The DPP further addressed the need to strengthen efforts to support victims and survivors through consistent use of the GBV referral pathway to ensure victims and survivors access the full spectrum of support services, which may include referral to psychosocial support, medical care, legal assistance, and protection services such as safe shelters or witness protection.

Justice Njoki Ndung’u emphasized the need for institutions to lead by example, calling for internal anti-SGBV policies to safeguard staff and uphold ethical governance. “Such policies go a long way in ensuring just and fair administration and upholding the rights of every individual,” she said.

International partners also echoed their support. Ulrich Jaenen of GIZ’s Police Program Africa pledged continued investment in regional capacity-building. Jessica Ryckman, Executive Director at Lawyers Without Borders, stressed the importance of unified efforts across legal and civil society sectors to form a strong, collective front against SGBV.

Abdalla Komesha, Head of Investigations at Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), reinforced the need for regional collaboration: “SGBV is a transboundary crime. It doesn’t stop at checkpoints—and neither should our efforts to fight it.”