Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children: Newsletter 47 (16 - 27 October 2006)

Submitted by crinadmin on Tue, 31/10/2006 - 05:03

Summary: Child Rights Weekly Update Issue 47
16th - 27th October 2006

National News

Retention of Girls in Schools in Busia Worries Ministry

Transition rates of girls in schools in Busia District indicate that 13,330 girls are lost as they proceed to upper primary. There are a total of 63,358 girls compared to 64,963 boys and out of the 63, 358, there are 38,344 girls in lower primary and 25,014 in upper primary. This was said by Ms. Immaculate Obare, a representative of the District Education Office in Busia on 18th October 2006 during a Youth Awareness Meeting on Adolescent Health organized by KAACR at St. Teresa's Primary School in Busia.

Ms. Obare blamed the low retention on child labour, poor sanitation facilities in schools, early pregnancies, early marriages and lack of education on maturity and developmental changes in girls.

During the meeting, twenty eight primary schools from Busia and Bungoma districts were presented with free sanitary towels for use by class eight girls sitting their national exams this year, in the project schools.

The meeting was attended by over 200 boys and girls, youth, teachers, head teachers and local leaders from Busia and Bungoma. Also present was KAACR's Executive Director and two representatives of Edukans, Netherlands, Mr. Dick Verboom and Ms. Liana Hoornweg, who were visiting the project.

For more information, contact

Email: [email protected]

Religious Leaders in Bugoma and Busia Trained on CRC and Reproductive Health

Over 44 Religious and Local leaders in Bungoma and Busia districts were last week trained on Child Rights and Reproductive health at a workshop organized by KAACR. Key objectives of the workshop was to train participants on children rights, share problems affecting adolescents and the role of religious leaders in dealing with these problems and to lobby for support of religious leaders towards the child-led movement against HIV/AIDS, STDs and negative cultural practices.

As a way forward, suggested that similar workshops be extended to locations and grassroot level targeting chiefs and other church leaders and youth. They also called for formation of Child Rights clubs in schools and estates and forums that involve drama, poems and plays that have educative issues on adolescent health be increased.

They also said they would form a working committee to help in mobilization of child rights issues as an entry point with the hope that this would have indicators for success.

For more information, contact

Email: [email protected]

Research Findings on Corporal Punishment Disseminated in Mombasa

A Research on Corporal punishment conducted by KAACR in Nairobi was last week disseminated in Mombasa. The research established that Corporal Punishment is still widely used, the existing laws in Kenya do not protect children effectively and very few people use alternative to corporal punishments.

Twenty-one participants attended the dissemination workshop. They included, head teachers, MOEST officials from Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi districts, Elimu yetu coalition and the Provincial Child Rights Network (PCRN).

After presentation of the research findings, participants came up with recommendations such as the need to come up with mechanisms giving guidelines on how teachers should discipline children. Intensify campaigns on alternatives to corporal punishment and replicate the research findings countrywide.

They also asked KAACR to identify specific methods of alternative to corporal punishment and facilitate a dissemination forum. Their recommendations will be incorporated into the research findings.

The dissemination workshop is part of KAACR's implementation project on "enhancing discipline in schools in Coast Province" targeting 25 public primary and secondary schools in Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa districts.

For more information, contact

Email: infor @kaacr.com

Kenya to Host 2nd Meeting to the Kyoto Protocol

Kenya will host the second meeting to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2) in conjunction with the Twelfth Session of the Conference of the Parties to Climate Change Convention (COP 12) in Nairobi from 6th - 17th November 2006. The Conference will he held at the UNEP headquarters.

In line with the meeting, Heinrich Boll Foundation has planned a half day panel discussion on "Africa's stake in the Climate Change Talks" to be held on 14th November 2006 at a city hotel.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai will be present at the discussions among other panelists.

For more information, contact

Email: [email protected]

International News

European Court Convicts Belgium for Deporting a Congolese Child

The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg has convicted Belgium for maltreating a Congolese girl, Tabitha Kaniki Mitunga in 2002, when she was only five.

The girl was on her way from D.R.Congo to Canada to visit her mother in the company of her uncle when they stopped in Brussels enroute to Canada. Her Uncle did not have a legal permit allowing Tabitha to enter Belgium. She was detained as an illegal immigrant, while her uncle traveled to Canada.

The 5 year old was put on a Kinshasa bound plane and nobody was in Kinshasa to receive her. Tabitha's mother Ms, Pulcherie Mubilanzila Mayeka lodged an application to the European Court of Human Rights on 16 April 2003.

For further information, visit http://www.crin.org

(Source: CRINMAIL 825)

D.R. Congo's Reintegration Programme Failing Children

A current report by Amnesty International on Democratic Republic of Congo's Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration programme claims that it is not meeting children's need for protection and support.

The report indicates that over 11,000 children are still with armed groups or unaccounted for, two years after the government launched a country-wide programme to release and reintegrate child soldiers into civilian life.

Girls are not being released and are retained to serve male fighters. Amnesty International has appealed to the incoming government to ensure that all children associated with armed forces and groups are released, protected and provided with meaningful educational and income-generating opportunities to enable them to stay within their communities.

It also asks the government to invest in a state educational system. The report indicates that six million children have no formal education in DRC. This contributes to the economic and social insecurity of Congolese children, one of the factors behind the widespread recruitment and use of children in the country.

For more information, contact

Email: [email protected]

(Source: CRINMAIL 823)

HIV/AIDS to Orphan 18 Million Children by 2010

United Nations estimates that about 18 million African Children will be orphaned by AIDS by 2010. Donors and governments have been asked to come up with better strategies to combat the pandemic.

According to UN figures, more than half of the 350 million people living in West and Central Africa are 18-years old or younger. Many of them are sexually active, but sex is a taboo, leaving many young people ill informed about how AIDS is transmitted.

Those infected have no access to ARVs and UNICEF estimates that only one percent of pregnant women and children infected with HIV receive antiretroviral drugs in the region.

The UN appeals to governments to allocate more money to help children and pregnant women.

For more information, visit http://www.crin.org

(Source: CRINMAIL 825)

UNICEF Cautions on Sanctions Against North Korea

UNICEF has appealed to the International Community to consider women and children in North Korea, before imposing sanctions. It says that whatever sanctions are to be imposed, they must be designed and imposed in away that avoids negative impact on children.

A child Impact assessment must be applied and constant monitoring done to gauge the humanitarian impact. The comments were made at a UN Security Council meeting called to consider imposing sanctions against North Korea for its reported nuclear test mid this month.

Currently, approximately, one third of mothers in North Korea are malnourished and anemic. It is also reported that the maternal mortality rate in the country is 110 deaths per 100,000 live births.

Fore more information, visit http://www.crin.org

(Source: CRINMAIL 823)

WHO Publishes Guide on Violence Against Children

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published a guide to help countries prevent violence against children. The publication, Preventing Child Maltreatment: a guide to taking action and generating evidence is intended to assist countries design and deliver programmes for the prevention of child maltreatment by parents and caregivers.

The guide is a practical tool that will help governments implement the recommendations of the UN study on violence against children. According to the recently released UN Secretary-General's Study on Violence Against Children, much of the violence endured by children aged 0-14 occurs in homes at the hands of parents, caregivers and family members.

Consequences of this violence hinder children's health and development and can last into adulthood, negatively affecting health and increasing the risks of further victimization and becoming a perpetrator of violence.

The need to invest in prevention of violence is urgent. The UN study and the guide make it clear that responsibility for change lies with governments and should involve other stakeholders, including NGOs, research councils and the international community.

For more information, visit http://www.who.int

Email: [email protected]

(Source: CRINMAIL 823)

A Trainers Manual on Antiretroviral Treatment Published

A Manual on Antiretroviral treatment for use by NGOs and CBOs has been published. The manual published Aids Alliance will help in training of ARV treatment programmes. It contains tools, activities and information enabling trainees to use their knowledge to inform and support their communities.

It is designed to assist training facilitators who work directly with communities affected by HIV/AIDS. It is also a useful resource for health care staff who train community health workers and for national and international organizations or consultants providing technical support to CBOs and NGOs.

The manual is divided into thematic modules containing practical training activities, essential information and advice for trainers. The modules cover topics such as: - preparing for ARV treatment, supporting treatment adherence, prevention of HIV positive people stigma and ARV treatment, treatment for children and the role of CBOs and NGOs in supporting people on ARV treatment.

For further information, visit, http://www.aidsalliance.org

Email: [email protected]

Upcoming Events in Brief

National News

27 October

Annual General Meeting- Kenya Aids NGOs Consortium (KANCO)

Venue: Panafric Hotel

Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children: Newsletter 47 (16 - 27 October 2006)

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