Visualising Justice on Sexual Violence in Kenya: Stimulating inclusion, Peace and Public Engagement through the Creative Economy

This project disseminates research from our AHRC-funded GCRF Rights for Time/Time for Rights Network Plus (AH/T008091/1), which is an interdisciplinary intersectoral research network+ that is focused on humanitarian protection research for the purpose of achieving economic, social, and policy impacts. Our research in Kenya is documenting the cumulative harms that survivors endure in the aftermath of sexual violence. The research is studying the nature of sexual violence and changing the way that evidence is gathered to prevent crimes and better protect survivors, thereby addressing SDG5 and SDG16. What our analysis shows, is that some of the most lasting harms are connected to social perceptions of sexual assault-who perpetrates it, and who can be a victim. The research results challenge crisis notions of harm, revealing that sexual violence survivors endure harms from not only the crime itself, but also from the inadequate enforcement of law and policy. Crucially, the sorts of harms Rights for Time research has documented are not specific to survivors in Kenya. Around the world, sexual offenses are widespread, underreported, and seldomly prosecuted. In the UK, the prosecution rate of sexual assault cases is estimated to be less than 2%--and that is of the assaults reported to the police. The theoretical insights gained through the research challenge crisis notions of harm and are applicable globally. In order to change the long-term outcomes of the survivors, we need to begin sharing the data collected through our programs. This follow-on project disseminates our research via a participatory documentary film project that aims to impact social perceptions of sexual violence and survivors via the creative economy. Our nonacademic partners on the project are the Survivors of Sexual Violence in Kenya Network , and the Wangu Kanja Foundation. This follow-on project amplifies the impact of our research by increasing awareness about our research findings, which shed light on the realities of sexual violence and the cumulative trauma and harms that survivors endure. The participatory film will create space for survivors to reflect on their individual and collective strengths and concerns. The nature of the participatory approach is transformative because it functions as a form of empowerment, facilitating the development of confidence while eliminating oppressive beliefs, labels, stereotypes, and stigma. The impact activities empower survivors, giving them a voice, and in doing so, promote meaningful change in how the public perceives the crime and survivors, and how authorities address these types of offences. The participatory film will document survivors' experiences of devaluation and powerlessness in their personal, social, and community lives arising from sexual violence, allowing audiences in Kenya (i.e., the general public, policy makers and duty bearers), and internationally (e.g., in the UK, the National Priority Setting Partnership (which is a national network of survivors), the FCDO, PSVI; policy makers) to gain new insights. The film will portray information about GBSV and engage in creative storytelling to deepen the emotional impact on viewers. The follow-on project also develops and implements an international engagement and communications plan to reach targeted audiences in Kenya and internationally, and to disseminate the Rights for Times research findings to national and international policy makers and duty bearers. Rights for Time has a strong network of national and international partners that will serve as an important network through which we can disseminate the film and the Rights for Time research that underpins it. These impact activities will increase awareness about the realities of sexual violence, involve survivors in the dissemination of Rights for Time Research, raise public awareness about Rights for Time research, and ultimately, reduce sexual violence incidence.