Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

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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
countrywide activities. Children participate in the planning as well as the actual events of the day.Other important days include World Day for street children; World Day against Child labour; WorldOrphans Day; Special Needs Day; World AIDS Day; World Play Day; World Day for Prevention ofChild Abuse; Universal Children’s Day; World Water Day; and the World Environment Day.Challenges experienced with regard to child participation processesThe concept of child participation is yet to be fully understood and appreciated by allstakeholders in the children sector leading to different forms and level of involving childrensome of which do not meet established standards.Participation of children with special needs and children from marginalized and outlyingregions continues to be a challenge.Children are rarely involved in evaluation of processes they have participated in.IEC material to enhance child participation is not evenly distributed as marginalized areas areoften left out.6.6 Lessons LearnedThe article on child participation as contained in the ACRWC and UNCRC establishes not onlya right in itself, but should also be considered in the interpretation and implementation of allother rights.Collaboration between state and non state actors is essential to realization of the right of thechild to participate.The involvement of children in matters that affect them builds their self-worth and instilsdiscipline.Investing in capacity building on child participation for children and adults leads tosustainability of initiatives set up due to the sense of ownership. Children are able to giveviews with regard to how institutions should be run and have their views taken intoconsideration.Meaningful child participation implies Government and CSOs should avoid tokenisticapproaches, which limit children’s expression of views, or which allow children to be heard,but fail to give their views due weight. Adult manipulation of children, placing children insituations where they are told what to say or exposing them to risk of harm throughparticipation are not ethical practices.For participation to be effective and meaningful, it needs to be understood as a process, notas an individual one-off event.53
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
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Page 23 and 24: presentation to the Department of I
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 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

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