Gender Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) are issues that are rampant in our communities. We should not put a deaf ear on this matter but as a community come up with means and ways to tackle it. A peaceful environment is a prosperous community for the future generation.

The Hijabi Mentorship Program (THMP) had an intergeneration dialogue that took place in Tiwi in Matuga sub-county. It reached 30 people from five villages which were; Sokoni, Kirudi, Chirima, Mkoyo and Galani villages.

The young and old men and women came together and widely discussed and spoke about the GBV and SRHR issues in Matuga. They agreed to come up with ways to collectively address the issues in their respective villages. Types of GBV experienced in these areas are;

· Rape

· Domestic violence

· Defilement

· Early marriages

· Teenage pregnancies

· Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

Mostly the above discussed GBV cases in Matuga are of results of greed, poverty, festivities in the area, parents’ negligence most do not mind about their children whereabouts; what they do and the groups of friends they are involved with. Exposure to the digital and peer pressure is a big challenge to the teens in the area. It is sad to know that people use prominence to cause GBV, the offices are used by prominent members to carry out their mischievous behaviors. Poor traditional believes will continue to be a major cause of GBV if not put to halt.

The GBV victims in the villages always face a lot of challenges when they try to seek for justice complained the villagers. There are a lot of corruption and bribery from the authorities, intimidation of the victim and mostly the villagers like to have out of court settlement.

By the end of the dialogue, the residence of Matuga sub-county agreed that GBV and SRHR issues do exist and that the government and other partners should work together to ensure that the issue is reduced and put to an end in our communities.