Civil society organizations in Kenya marking the 16 days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) on November 25.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence was officially launched in Naivasha by the Minister for Gender and Children affairs, Esther Murugi attended by several Gender based civil society organizations.

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence is an annual international campaign that began in 1991 initiated by the Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Centre for Women's Global Leadership and runs each year from the November 25 to December 10 led by a different theme annually.

The Minister in her statement said women and children are the most precious members of our society, yet they are still subjected to the most horrible crimes committed against humanity.

She emphasized that GBV must begin to be seen as a development issue, not as a woman's issue and hope for a permanent end to violence in the home, violence in the work place and in every sector in our society.

"We want them to be taken to court. We want them to be prosecuted and to be treated just like any other criminal," Murugi said.

She also stressed the importance of reporting incidences of violence and called on Kenyans to take the 16 days seriously.

In their efforts to fight against violence women, the UN pledged a sum of US $ 10.5 million.

The funds, which were announced while marking the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, will assist 13 initiatives in 18 countries and territories.

The UN Trust Fund in Support of Actions to Eliminate Violence against Women, overseen by the UN Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), will disperse the grants.

The UN also launched the Network of Men Leaders, a coalition of public and private leaders working to stop violence against women.

Prominent members of the Network include Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, and Brazilian novelist and UN Messenger of Peace Paulo Coelho.