About the Gender Equity and Protection (GEP) Office

The office is responsible for ensuring adherence to the current legislation and international conventions on matters gender equity and protection within the university. Further, it provides prompt responses to and effectively stops problematic behaviour, prevent its recurrence and remedies its effects as per the provided guidelines. The office generally serves to eliminate, prevent and redress known instances of gender based misconduct or violence with fair and efficient processes that are intended to support the entire University Community.

The mandate of the Gender Equity and Protection (GEP) Office at USIU-Africa is to create and foster a campus environment free from sexual harassment, sexual gender based violence and all forms of discrimination.

USIU-Africa prohibits all forms of sexual gender based violence and discrimination on or off campus. Prohibited conduct include sexual harassment, gender based violence, sexual misconduct, harmful practices, sexual assault, interpersonal violence and all forms of gender discrimination.

The office is also tasked with providing technical oversight on gender mainstreaming and equitable transformation considerations for all USIU-Africa processes, functions and services.

Please download the GEP Brochure

COVID-19 Update
In adherence to the established COVID-19 protocols, the Gender Equity and Protection office will receive complaints remotely through channels like email, WhatsApp and phone calls.

• If you have an emergency, please call, text or send a WhatsApp message on +254 782 53 9361
• To lodge a sexual harassment, sexual gender based violence and other related forms of discrimination, please submit a report online.
• All Gender Equity or related title IX trainings are being offered via Zoom; to request or request a training, please complete a training request form.
• For any questions related to reports, accommodations or resources, please email: rngumi@usiu.ac.ke or gep@usiu.ac.ke

Policies and procedures
As part of USIU-Africa’s commitment to fostering a safe learning and working environment free from sexual harassment, gender based violence and all forms of discrimination, the university has put in place a USIU-Africa Sexual and Gender Based Violence Policy.

The same legal and policy standards that define sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, coercion or intimidation apply to the online and electronic environment.

Reporting an incident
Any person may report sexual harassment, sexual assault, gender based violence and all forms of discrimination by reporting incidents anonymously via an online reporting form. Once you report an incident, the University will support you by:

1. Offering confidential support, referral and psycho-social support for survivors. Failure to report may result in negative psychological effects which may destabilize your academics and career.
2. Ensuring that it allocates the requisite resources to protect you and restore dignity of survivors.

USIU-Africa believes in fair ethics and adjudication for both parties, and as such, the university will enforce disciplinary action on all parties found to be culpable.

Resources

• Gender Equity and Protection Office Brochure
• Sexual and Gender Based Violence Policy
• Sexual and Gender Based Violence Complaint Form

Contacts

For any information or assistance, please reach out to:
The Gender Equity and Protection Office,
Administration Block, 1st Floor,
Email: gep@usiu.ac.ke or rngumi@usiu.ac.ke
GBV Hotline: +254 782 539 361