Covaw-Kenya hosted a Media Breakfast on the 23rd of November,2011 at the Hilton Hotel,Nairobi. This was done to  facilitate the national launch of the 16 days of activism campaign theme and the purple.The theme of this years Campaign period is,"From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World-Let us challenge militarism and end violence against women". This theme resonates with the situation in Kenya and the whole of the African region.COVAW has further simplified this theme to a call for action-"Komesha Dhuluma dhidi ya Wanawake". Through this, we recognize that everyone has a role to play in ending violence against women.This theme explores the complex relationships between peace, home and the world,and recognizes the many spaces that militarism influences our lives. COVAW's position is that it is not possible to realize peace in our country when women continue to live in fear and abuse at the home front. COVAW is also concerned that even with all the strides in legal and policy frameworks and a constitution that promises a better life for all Kenyas,Kenyan women and girls continue to be raped, harassed, denied rights, and subjected to domestic violence in times that we all define as 'peaceful'.

Militarism is an ideology that creates a culture of fear and supports the use of violence,aggression,or military interventions for settling disputes and enforcing economic and political interests.Militarism elevates certain hegemonic forms of masculinity which then become dominant and inform the day to day interactions between women and men and amonst men themselves.It priviledges certain violent forms of masculinity, which often has grave consequences for the true safety and security of women,of men who do not conform to these roles and of society as a whole.

The Campaign thsi year delves into 5 thematic areas;1) bringing together women,peace,and human rights movements to cahallenge militarism, 2)Proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence 3)Sexual violence in and after conflict 4)Political violence against women, including election violence 5)Sexual and gender-based violence committed by state agents,particularly the police or military. All these thematic areas resonate with our situation with Kenya and the planned activities both at the community level and national level.In anticipation of the 2012 general elections, COVAW is particularly concerned about the experiences of women during the 2007 general elections and rape of women by stae agents is an area that has not been fully addressed.It is with this in mind that COVAWhopes to launch a hotline in 2012 to provide support to women in need of asistance and direct action in the prevention of political violence against women.This will be in line with COVAW's interventions under the gender violence monitoring unit.

We choose the purple ribbon in recognition of the experiences of women in all the thematic areas.The Purple ribbon means we stand in solidarity with all women and girls that have lost their lives through violence ,those that continue to leave in fear of violence in their homes,the children whose live are shuttered by violence and most importantly those that have had the courage to break away from such violence.