Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

In the last decade, issues addressed during national conferences include free primary education,water and sanitation, children’s participation in developmental issues, HIV/AIDS, debt cancellation,the plight of street children, security, shelter, infrastructure, children’s active participation in theconstitutional review process, and safe cities for children. The concept has been replicated bypartners in different parts of the country. The conference brings together school and out-of-schoolchildren, those with disabilities as well as those living in institutions. At the end of every conferencechildren develop a memorandum which is forwarded to policy makers including members ofparliament, and in certain instances even to the President.Every annual conference has a theme and following are some themes from Children VoicesConferences held in the past:2000 – “Children Sector Achievements 10 Years Down the Line”2001 – “Celebrating the Enactment of the Children Act”2002 – “Say Yes to the Children”. This theme informed the global agenda “A World Fit forChildren” which is now one of the benchmarks for the UNGASS.2005 - “My safety, My say”.2007 - “We Want Leaders Not Politicians”. This theme stimulated dialogue and discussionon how national elections affect children.2008 - “NEVER AGAIN”. Children narrated how they were affected by the post electionviolence. This by far has been the most moving children’s voices conference due to thetrauma that children experienced.2009 – “A city fit for children”. Children voiced their concerns about security and theproblems they encounter with regard to transport and movement within towns, especiallycities. This led to the creation of children’s crossing points on busy roads.2010 – “Yes or No”. Children said they want peace in order to have a good environment todiscuss issues regarding the proposed Constitution and the national referendum.2011- “Reading for Fun “. Children want a school calendar that allows them time to read forleisure, and not just for examinations.To date Children Voices has achieved the following: helped step up the level of child participation in Kenya; informed policy change and formulation through careful selection of annual themes throughconsensus among stakeholders including children; informed law reform including the enactment of the Constitution; Informed the establishment of the current Kenya Children Assembly; and received recognition with the vision bearer receiving a presidential award.6.5 Other Children events commemorated in KenyaThe Day of the African Child is celebrated on the 16 th of June every year. 59 The NCCS, TheDepartment of Children Services and various CSOs work together to organize and raise funds for59The Day of the African Child is celebrated on 16 th June every year in honour of the children from Soweto, South Africa who werekilled in 1976 during demonstrations to protest the use of Afrikaans in schools in South Africa.52