Grace Lolim

Grace Lolim is a Kenyan human rights and peace activist, the chair of the Isiolo Peace Committee, and the founder and executive director of Isiolo Gender Watch.[1]

Grace Lolim
NationalityKenyan
Occupation(s)Human rights and peace activist
Known forFounded Isiolo Gender Watch

Early life

Lolim is from Isiolo,[1] and was brought up in the Turkana community.[2]

Career and activism

Lolim started advocating for peace in 2000 when Somalis and Boranas were fighting in Nakuru.[1][2] Although she had successfully fled the conflict with her husband and children, she returned there to help her parents and the siblings she left behind. She discovered her family members hiding with other villagers along the riverbank, exposed to attacks by crocodiles.[1]

Despite persuasion from her husband, Lolim refused to leave her relatives in distress. She embarked on a journey of dialogue to end the conflict by joining the village peace committee. She was appointed by other women to speak during a conflict mitigation meeting at the locational level, a position that saw her interact with committee members from other tribes.[1]

She was the only woman to be nominated to speak for the village.[2]

In 2002, the United Nations Development Programme nominated Lolim to take part in an exchange program with Rwandan women to learn about the impact of armed conflict. According to one account, she preached peace using teachings she found in both the Bible and Koran, which was helpful in reaching her diverse audiences and was a great milestone for the peace committee.[1]

In 2013, Lolim founded Isiolo Gender Watch, an organization that advocates for human rights and gender equality,[2] where (as of 2022) she works as the executive director.[3] Lolim is the chair of the Isiolo Peace Committee[1]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Lolim lead efforts to share health messaging to her local community.[3] In 2020, she advocated for more women to be included in peacebuilding efforts.[4] In 2022, she spoke about the prevalence of sexual and gender based violence, and the need for justice in response to the murder of peace activist Elizabeth Ibrahim.[5][6]

See also

References
  1. "Defying Culture in Pursuit of Peace « Defenders Coalition". Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  2. "Defying Culture in the Fight for Equality". ForumCiv. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  3. "Isiolo County, Kenya - Local Radio Stations Aid in Creating Awareness on COVID-19 and Gender-Based Violence | Climate & Development Knowledge Network". cdkn.org. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  4. Wairimu, Waweru (25 Sep 2020). "Woo men to surrender firearms, Isiolo gender activist tells women | Kenya". nation.africa. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  5. Kamau, Winnie (2022-01-31). "Isiolo County Grapples with Grim Statistics of Gender Based Violence". Talk Africa. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
  6. "Women activists ask govt to ensure justice for Isiolo colleague killed in cold blood | The Press Point". 5 Jan 2022. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
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