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Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

Promoting child rights in Kenya - Pelastakaa Lapset ry

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ANNEXESAnnex 1Key State Actors and National Programs implemented by the State:a) M<strong>in</strong>ist<strong>ry</strong> of Gender, Children and Social Development (MGC&SD)This is the prima<strong>ry</strong> M<strong>in</strong>ist<strong>ry</strong> that offers services to <strong>child</strong>ren <strong>in</strong> need of care and protection. This is done through theDepartment of Children Services (DCS).b) The National Council for Children Services (NCCS) was established <strong>in</strong> 2003 under Section 31 (1) of the ChildrenAct to exercise general supervision and control over plann<strong>in</strong>g, f<strong>in</strong>anc<strong>in</strong>g and coord<strong>in</strong>ation of <strong>child</strong> <strong>rights</strong> activities and toadvise the government on all aspects relat<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>child</strong>ren. 61 To date, NCCS has spearheaded the development ofvarious <strong>child</strong> <strong>rights</strong> <strong>in</strong>struments which <strong>in</strong>clude the Guidel<strong>in</strong>es for Child Participation <strong>in</strong> <strong>Kenya</strong>, Charitable Children’sInstitutions (CCI) Regulations, Adoption Regulations and the Area Adviso<strong>ry</strong> Council Tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g Manual. The NCCS isalso <strong>in</strong> the process of develop<strong>in</strong>g a national <strong>child</strong>ren’s data base with technical assistance from the InternationalLabour Organisation (ILO).c) Area Adviso<strong>ry</strong> Councils (AACs): NCCS is mandated to establish Area Adviso<strong>ry</strong> Councils (AACs) at district,division and location levels. AACs br<strong>in</strong>g together all the heads of departments from the m<strong>in</strong>istries of Home Affairs andNational Heritage; Prov<strong>in</strong>cial Adm<strong>in</strong>istration and National Security; Education; Health; Justice, National Cohesion andConstitutional Affairs; Office of the President; NGOs; Faith Based Organizations; and Community Based Organizationsoperat<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> the area. One role of AACs is to facilitate and/or strengthen data collection and creation of databanks. At the time of writ<strong>in</strong>g this report AACs had been established <strong>in</strong> 124 districts.d) The Department of Civil Registration implements programmes and activities with the aim of rais<strong>in</strong>g the level ofpublic awareness on the need and importance of register<strong>in</strong>g births and deaths and facilitates the registration.e) The Judicia<strong>ry</strong>: The judicia<strong>ry</strong> has established <strong>child</strong>ren courts <strong>in</strong> some court stations. Children magistrates havebeen gazetted to sit <strong>in</strong> these courts and many have benefitted from tra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g on <strong>child</strong>ren related matters. Family CourtDivisions of the High Court have been established to handle issues relat<strong>in</strong>g to families such as succession and<strong>in</strong>heritance thereby expedit<strong>in</strong>g justice for families.The M<strong>in</strong>ist<strong>ry</strong> of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs through the National Legal Aid Programmeprovides legal aid to <strong>child</strong>ren on a pilot basis <strong>in</strong> two projects <strong>in</strong> Nairobi and Nakuru.f) The Adoption Secretariat: The M<strong>in</strong>ist<strong>ry</strong> of Gender, Children and Social Development has established a permanentAdoption Secretariat to handle adoption, foster care placements and related issues. The current registered adoptionsocieties <strong>in</strong> <strong>Kenya</strong> are Little Angels Network; <strong>Kenya</strong> Children’s Home; Child Welfare Society of <strong>Kenya</strong>; <strong>Kenya</strong>n to<strong>Kenya</strong>n Peace Initiative; and Little Gems.g) The National Police Service among other th<strong>in</strong>gs provides Child Protection Units (CPU) at selected Police Stations.CPUs handle cases of <strong>child</strong>ren who come <strong>in</strong>to contact with the law <strong>in</strong> a manner that takes <strong>in</strong>to consideration theirspecial needs.h) Childl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>Kenya</strong> operates the HelpL<strong>in</strong>e 116 which is a toll free number established to enhance protection of<strong>child</strong>ren from abuse and neglect. The Helpl<strong>in</strong>e was set up through collaboration between the government and CSOs. Itcurrently operates from three centres across the count<strong>ry</strong>.61<strong>Kenya</strong> 2 nd State Party Report to the UNCRC Committee.57

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