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Child Rights Weekly Update National News NGOs to Support Dissemination of 2nd CRC Report The meeting, which brought together 26 heads of international and national NGOs working with children in Kenya, also discussed the mid-review of the Africa Fit for Children and the World Fit for Children. African Heads of State met in Lagos and developed a plan of action to assess implementation of the World Fit for Children Goals in Africa. The goals are; promoting healthy lives, providing quality education, protecting against abuse, exploitation and violence; and combating HIV/AIDS. A government mid-review report was sent to the African Union on 20th July 2007 on the achievements made since the 2002 UN General Assembly Special Session on Children. An African forum for Children dubbed 'Africa Fit for Children' will be held in October 2007 to assess progress made by countries in readiness for the World Fit for Children Session in December in New York. The participants proposed that children and NGOs should participate actively in this meeting. Present in the meeting, were NGO representatives in the NCCS namely Mr. Abdul Hamid Slatch of Young Muslim Association (YMA) and Mr. Mathenge Munene of Save the Children Canada. The two reported that Government had embarked on the initiative of activating Area Advisory Councils (AACs) as provided for in the Children Act and guidelines and manuals for setting up the councils developed. In process, is the development of a National Children Policy. On OVCs, it was reported that the Cash Transfer Assistance to families supporting OVCs had been raised to Ksh.1500 from the initial 1000. Presently, 17,000 families from 17 districts are benefiting, up from 3,000 beneficiaries. Participants urged the NCCS representatives to keep holding the Government accountable to ensure that targeting and identification of the OVCs is properly done. Also discussed in the meeting was the recruitment of children into criminal gangs and the lack of speedy response from the NCCS. The participants agreed to prepare a statement to raise key issues affecting children, and also to call for protection of children during the campaign and election periods. A sub-committee was instituted to prepare the statement. A follow-up meeting will be held on 7th August 2007. For more information contact the NGO CRC Committee Secretariat at KAACR on email [email protected] Conference to Discuss Individual Complaints Procedure Optional Protocol The CRADLE, together with members of the Individual Complaints Procedure Working Group, has organized a National Conference on the Draft Optional Protocol to the UNCRC for an Individual Complaints Procedure, scheduled to take place at Panafric Hotel, Nairobi on 31st July 2007. The Individual Complaints Procedure Working Group has been spearheading the African Initiative to lobby and advocate for an Optional Protocol to the UNCRC that will provide for an Individual Complaints Procedure. The procedure will provide victims of child rights abuse with recourse when all domestic avenues have been exhausted. The objectives of the meeting are therefore, to create understanding on the necessity of the Individual Complaints Procedure, how it affects the child in Kenya and the process of lobbying for an International Human Rights Instrument. The meeting will further discuss possible strategies for lobbying for the procedure at a national and regional level and develop a plan of action towards the campaign. For more information, contact [email protected] Workshop to Discuss Child Labour The Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi Project on Child Labour, is organizing a workshop to be held on 9th August 2007 at Utalii Hotel, Nairobi. The workshop will feature two background paper presentations on Child Labour and Commercial Sex Exploitation of Children (CSEC): Policy analysis in Kenya and Child Participation in the Elimination of Child Labour in Kenya. For more information, contact Jeremiah Muthoka on email [email protected] Boys and Girls Trained on Leadership and Advocacy KAACR, in collaboration with Africa Child Development Centre (ACDC), have in the past two Saturdays, on 14th and 21st July 2007, trained 92 boys and girls aged 15 - 20 years old, on leadership, advocacy and effective participation of children. The training was aimed at empowering boys and girls with leadership and advocacy skills from a rights-based approach to enable them act as change agents in their schools and communities. The workshops, which brought together young people from ten primary and secondary schools in Ngong, Kibera and Kawangware, were held at Ngong Township Primary school in Ngong town. During the discussions, children recommended that parents and teachers should be sensitized on the Children Act 2001. For more information, contact KAACR on email [email protected] Gender Forum to Address Women in Political Parties The Gender Forum, organized by Heinrich Boll Foundation, was held on Thursday 26th July 2007 at Nairobi Safari Club, Lilian Towers. In continuation of this year's theme which focuses on enhancing women's political participation in the coming general elections 2007, the topic of discussion was "Who has what for women?" A Gender Audit of Political Party Constitutions and Manifestos, a presentation by the Centre for Multiparty Democracy. The Gender audit assesses political party legal and institutional instruments and other key documents, and how they mainstream gender within their frameworks. The findings of this assessment will provide a tool for women aspirants, CSOs, and other stakeholders to lobby and advocate for the rightful representation of women in political parties. For more information, contact Wanjiku Wakogi on email [email protected] Feedback from Readers Ø 'I have learnt with joy the trainings you are doing for teachers mainly in Kuria and Nyanza districts. We wish the same would be replicated in Tharaka where child abuse is on the increase. At least three or four children are raped every month in Tharaka district, where a DCO was posted last month and he is unable due to lack of transport. Public vehicles are few and a Government vehicle or motorbike has not been issued to the new DCO. Such trainings will sensitize teachers and save children," Rev. Julius Mungania, Centre Co-ordinator, Tunyai Children's Centre. Upcoming Events in Brief National News 28 July Training of Teachers on Adolescent Reproductive Health Venue: YWCA, Kisumu Organizer: KAACR Contact: [email protected] 28 July Training of Peer Leaders in Maseno Venue: YWCA, Kisumu Organizer: KAACR Contact: [email protected] 31 July National Conference to Discuss the Need for an Optional Protocol on the UNCRC on an Individual Complaints Procedure Venue: Panafric Hotel, Nairobi Organizer: The Cradle Contact: [email protected] 9 August Workshop on Child Labour Venue: Utalii Hotel, Nairobi Organizer: Institute of Development Studies, University of Nairobi Contact: [email protected] Regional and International News 16-28 July 128th Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Location: Washington D.C 6-8 August Regional Consultative Conference for Child helplines in Africa Location: Uganda Contact: [email protected] 11-12 August National Youth Convention 111 Venue: KICC, Nairobi Organizer: Youth Employment Summit (YES) Contact: [email protected] 12-15 August 4th Annual Youth Assembly Location: New York Contact: yaapplications @faf.org 5-7 September 60th annual NGO/DP1 Conference Location: New York Contact: [email protected] 21 September Day of General Discussion 2007 Location: Geneva Switzerland Contact: [email protected] 24-26 September First International Conference on Child Sexual Abuse in Africa Location: Nairobi, Kenya Contact: [email protected] 1 -2 October 2007 International Conference to mark World Habitat Day 2007 Location: The Hague, the Netherlands Contact: [email protected] 18 -19 October 2007 Seminars to promote rights of Trafficking victims Location: Belgrade, Serbia 19 November 2007 World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse 1 December 2007 World AIDS Day 11-12 December 2007 UN Special session on Children Location: New York 13-14 December 2007 Child Labour, Education and Youth employment seminar Location: Paris, France Contact: [email protected] The Child Rights Weekly Update (CRWU) is published by Kenya Alliance for Advancement Children (KAACR) as a medium of sharing information on events happening within the child rights sector nationally and internationally. For those interested in participating in specific events, we urge you to contact the hosting organization. KAACR is a national umbrella NGO for cooperation and information exchange on children's rights in Kenya. Compiled by: Betty Mwakelemu-Tole Edited by: Timothy Ekesa We welcome your contributions to the Newsupdate through the following contacts: Head Office P.O. Box 73637, 00200, Nairobi Email: [email protected] or [email protected] Tel: 4450256/7, 0722-780224, 0733-287964 Fax: 4450092 Coast Region P.O. Box 2820, Mombasa. Tel: 041-221395 Western Region Office P O Box 6853 Kondele, Kisumu Websites on Children Issues www.kaacr.com - KAACR Website www.unicef.org - UNICEF www.anppcankenya.co.ke - ANPPCAN Child Abuse reporting www.gmfc.org.hivaids - Global Movement for Children - Lesson for Life Campaign www.plan-international.org - Plan International www.childtrafficking.com - Terre des homes, Nepal www.crin.org - CRIN Website www.childrenandviolence.org - NGOs and the UN Study on Violence against Children www.child-to-child - Child - to - Child Trust UK www.nyumbani.org - Nyumbani Children's Home www.mamafatumas.org - Mama Fatuma goodwill children's home www.retrak.org - Information on street children Dear Reader, please share with us other sites on children issues!Issue No.16, 16th - 22nd July 2007
Dissemination of the Kenya's 2nd Report on Implementation of the CRC in the provinces has been completed and now attention is focused on the districts. Participants attending the NGO CRC CEOs Breakfast meeting held on 24th July 2007 at Silver Springs Hotel agreed that NGOs should take an active role and ensure children are part of the process as they were not involved at provincial level dissemination. Participants agreed to develop a joint workplan with NCCS, who is heading the dissemination process.