A pilot project against gender-based violence in Kenya has recently been launched. The project will involve construction of an information center as well as care for victims. The project will also attack the cause of such violence: the representations of women which place them at a lower rank and make them more vulnerable.

Specific training on gender-based violence will be offered to different people likely to be in direct contact with victims. Police, health workers, village volunteers, counselors, social workers and members of the judiciary will be reached. It often seems that police officers are not well informed or equipped to deal with victims. A common misunderstanding is that sexual abuse is the domain of police officers themselves, and not the courts. 

Awareness sessions targeting the entire community will be organized. 
Topics include HIV / AIDS, reproductive health and gender-based violence. Raising family awareness will be conducted closer to homes: the goal is to initiate a dialogue in the community, to encourage prevention and to respond to violence based on gender. Adequate communication channels, including the disabled and younger, will be forged. The project is also intended to create joint committees of villagers, which will involve local authorities,  HIV-positive people and others who will be trained to promote dialogue on gender, human rights, gender-based violence, HIV, education and vulnerability. The objective of the project is both to foster dialogue within the community, improve the identification of victims and change the perception of those most vulnerable.

Local and national authorities are invited to get involved in awareness-raising operations. To reach the target groups, a variety of methods are used, especially theatrical performances (sketches, poems, songs and drama), discussion groups, videos and peer groups that lead discussions.

Reactions are mixed. Most people are not comfortable talking about sex, and the comfort level is even less when different generations are present at meetings. We must address these issues with "less sensitive" topics such as information on HIV / AIDS, reproductive health or human rights first to win the confidence of the people before confronting gender-based violence, rape and sexual assault. On the other hand, Police officers, judges, health and social workers themselves have identified the need for such training and have suggested such topics.