Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

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i. Drafting and Validation WorkshopsAt the conclusion of the regional workshops a drafting retreat was held in 2004 to incorporatereports from the workshops into one State Party report. Participants at the drafting retreatcomprised of representatives from government and CSOs who were selected based on the 8thematic clusters of the UNCRC Reporting Guidelines. 18 The process was facilitated by aconsultant who guided the participants in compiling information from the regional workshops underthe various thematic clusters.The drafting retreat was followed by a national children validation workshop, during which childrepresentatives from all over the country met to validate the findings of the children regionalforums. The children also selected four child representatives to attend the Pre-Sessional Hearingin Geneva in 2006 as part of the NGO delegation.Finally, the National Drafters’ Technical Workshop was held in November 2004 in Mombasa andattended by technical heads of various ministries together with CSO representatives. The mainobjective of this workshop was to finalise compilation of the State Party reports on the UNCRC aswell as the ACRWC. This process was also facilitated by a consultant.ii.Preparation of a Supplementary Report and the Pre-Sessional HearingOnce the drafting of the State Party report 19 on the UNCRC was complete CSOs embarked on theprocess of compiling the Supplementary Report 20 . The report addressed gaps in the State Partyreport and also gave updated information based on the period between collection of views from theregions and the submission of the State Party report. The supplementary report was presented tothe UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by the NGO delegation during the Pre-Sessionalhearing held in October, 2006 in Geneva. The delegation comprised of 4 children (2 boys and 2girls) and 7 adult CSO representatives. 21 The children had been selected by other children in aprocess that started at the regional level right up to the national level. This was a greatimprovement compared to the first process where there was minimal participation by children. Thechildren delegates represented children living in institutions; children living in pastoralistcommunities; orphans; and children living in urban areas.Different organisations working in the regions where the child delegates came from supported theparticipation of the children financially and also ensured parents and guardians gave the necessaryconsent. 22 Arrangements for international travel were handled by the NGO Child RightsCommittee while the Department of Children Services assisted with letters of introduction for18General Measures of Implementation; Definition of the Child; General Principles; Civil Rights and Freedoms; Family andAlternative Care; Basic Health and Welfare; Education, Leisure and Cultural Activities; and Special Protection Measures.19http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G05/450/52/PDF/G0545052.pdf?OpenElement20http://www.crin.org/resources/infoDetail.asp?ID=11421&flag=legal21The CSO representatives were selected in NGO Child Rights Committee to represent the following sectors: the secretariat of theKenya NGO Child Rights Committee; HIV and AIDS issues; Child Participation issues; Issues pertaining to pastoral and internallydisplaced communities; and Legal issues; 2 chaperons, 1 for the girls and 1 for the boys; and the chair of the NGO Child RightsCommittee as head of delegation.22They ensured that the necessary consent forms were signed by parents and guardians releasing the children to attend the Presession.They also supported the parents and guardians to accompany the children up to Nairobi to hand them over to thechaperons accompanying them to the Pre-Session.22
presentation to the Department of Immigration for issuance of travel documents. Prior to travel forthe Pre-Session the children were accommodated in Nairobi where they had an opportunity tomeet and interact with the adult delegates prior to departure. This was important as it helped createa rapport and enabled the children to learn more about the Pre-Session. The children also used thetime to reacquaint themselves with the report and allocate areas of presentation amongthemselves. This enabled them to tell their own story in their own words.The children and adult delegates were supported to attend the Pre-Session by NGOs includingSave the Children, Plan Kenya, World Vision Kenya, Terre des Hommes, KAACR and UNICEF. 23Some of the funding went towards purchase of travel items such as appropriate clothing, travelbags and other necessary items for the children.During the Pre-Session, in line with established practice in Kenya, the children wereaccommodated in a child friendly venue. They held a separate one hour session with members ofthe UN Committee in the absence of the adult members of the delegation. 24 However, the adultdelegation allowed the children to sit with them when the adults held their session with theCommittee. Issues raised by the Committee during the Pre-Session include: the plight of internally displaced communities; lack of access to quality education by many children: lack of access to justice: and the plight of orphansiii. State Party Delegation and Conclusion on the Second State PartyReporting processFollowing the Pre-session, the UN Committee sent a list of issues to the State Party to respond to,which was done and the information sent back to the Committee. This paved way for the StateParty hearing which took place in January, 2007. The delegation was led by the Vice President whowas also the Minister for Home Affairs and National Heritage and comprised of staff of the NCCS,officials from the Department of Children Services and several ministries.Once the Pre-Sessional and State Party Hearing were over the government in collaboration withthe NGO Child Rights Committee held a meeting to discuss the outcome of the second State Partyreporting process. During the meeting which was presided over by the Vice President state andnon state actors in the children sector agreed to continue with the collaboration established duringthe reporting process. When the Concluding Observations were released by the UN Committee onthe Rights of the Child the government published and disseminated them to various institutions.This was a significant improvement from the first reporting process where there was delay indisseminating the Concluding Observations.24The information given to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child by NGO delegations and any other parties during thesession is treated with confidentiality to allow for openness.23
Page 5: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThe United Nations
Page 8 and 9: The team held several consultation
Page 10 and 11: KEY DEFINITIONS USED IN THIS DOCUME
Page 12 and 13: emergency responses. This was in li
Page 14 and 15: Working closely with the ministry i
Page 16 and 17: Timely development of a National Pl
Page 19 and 20: The Initial State Party Report on t
Page 21: At the end of the workshop it was a
Page 25 and 26: map for the process and a standard
Page 27 and 28: Collaboration between State and Non
Page 29 and 30: after ratification and thereafter a
Page 31 and 32: 3.3 Lessons Learned Incorporating t
Page 33 and 34: stakeholders were sensitized on the
Page 35 and 36: in conformity with the Constitution
Page 37 and 38: campaigns in order to adhere to and
Page 39 and 40: Administrators such as chiefs have
Page 41: Upon finalization the Bill was hand
Page 44 and 45: Since Kenya gained independence in
Page 46 and 47: After engaging with government and
Page 48 and 49: the Rights of the Child has identif
Page 50 and 51: After input from stakeholders the G
Page 52 and 53: In the last decade, issues addresse
Page 54 and 55: 7. Conclusions and Overall Recommen
Page 56 and 57: REFERENCES1. African Charter on the
Page 58 and 59: i) The Street Families Rehabilitati
Page 60 and 61: Annex 2:Key Non State Actors and Pr
Page 62 and 63: Annexe 3:Profile of authorsREV. AMB

Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

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