WWSF Global Campaign for Prevention of Child Abuse
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The turning tide: Kenya bans corporal punishment
"…Ending violence against children is a matter of urgency…To become a high priority, the elimination of violence against children requires strong political leadershipand determined advocacy by civil society".
- World Report on Violence Against Children
Stop Press!!
The turning tide: Kenya bans corporal punishment
CRINMAIL 1190
Kenya: The new Constitution adopted this month protects every person from corporal punishment, making Kenya the second African state this year to legally protect children from all corporal punishment in all settings, including the home, reports the Global Initiative to End All Corporal Punishment of Children.
Tunisia banned all forms of corporal punishment in July.
The new Constitution states in article 29 that every person "has the right to freedom and security of the person, which includes the right not to be ... (c) subjected to any form of violence from either public or private sources; (d) subjected to torture in any manner, whether physical or psychological; (e) subjected to corporal punishment; or (f) treated or punished in a cruel, inhuman or degrading manner". Article 20(1) states: "The Bill of Rights applies to all law and binds all State organs and all persons." And article 53 confirms that every child has the right "to be protected from abuse, neglect, harmful cultural practices, all forms of violence, inhuman treatment and punishment, and hazardous or exploitative labour".
The effect of the prohibition in the new Constitution is immediate: article 2(4) renders void any law, including customary law, that is inconsistent with the Constitution. There are various provisions in Kenyan law which justify or authorise corporal punishment, in conflict with the new Constitution. These will need to be reviewed and amended, including repeal of "the right of any parent or other person having the lawful control or charge of a child to administer reasonable punishment on him" from article 127 of the Children Act 2001 and of the authorisation of corporal punishment in schools in article 11 of the Education (School Discipline) Regulations.
Kenya is the 29th State worldwide to prohibit all corporal punishment of children. See the Global Initiative's updated global progress chart
The 19th November is the World Day for Preventionof Child Abuse - Let’s make prevention of abuse and violence against children a global priority
Prevention is key!
Together, let us create a culture of prevention
Informed and empowered young people can change the world!
Welcome to YouthEngage.com
To commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the WWSF campaign and the World Day for Prevention of Abuse and Violence against Children and youth - 19
November, we are happy to announce the launch of an interactive website YouthEngage.com
YouthEngage.com is based on a challenge: how can young people better prevent abuse and violence against children and youth?
With tools and suggestions on how to get involved, develop competences and become prevention actors, YouthEngage.com serves the emergence of a culture of prevention. The creativity of young people can shape societies in ways that respond to their need for security and socialization.
Mission:
- to empower young people to get involved in issues that affect them
- to mobilize young people through youth groups, school programs, scout movements, sports clubs, working children's organizations and children's parliaments to become prevention actors
- to build capacity, educate skills and increase knowledge for prevention, using the recommendations for young people of the WWSF guide "Prevention is Key!"
- to promote inter-youth dialogues and education to help reduce/end violence
- to know, advocate and defend the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)
- to know, share and discuss the UN Study on violence against children
- to share links to other education and support programs, videos, conferences, photographs, etc.
- to invite young people to sign a pledge and take a stand for prevention of abuse and violence against children and young people
- to encourage government collaboration with young people and their organizations to set up structures for child/youth participation
- to value the contributions of young people in achieving positive change
- to preserve the dignity and safety of children and young people everywhere.
Youth participation is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve positive changes in young people's lives and build a culture for prevention. Youth participation is one of the guiding principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and as such it is a fundamental right for young people as it enables them to express their views and opinions, receive information, be included and
assume duties and responsibilities, influence policy outcomes and involve themselves in all matters that affect their own lives in keeping with their age and maturity.
Young people basically need tasks for growing, good examples to help them find their way and participate, and communities where they feel safe and understood.
"No violence against children is justifiable and all violence against children is preventable."
- Prof. Paulo Pinheiro, Independent Expert for the UN Study on Violence against Children
For more information, contact
Zohra Saidali, YouthEngage.com coordinator
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
YouthEngage.com
c/o Child/Youth Section - WWSF Women's World Summit Foundation
P.O. Box 143, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland
Tel: +41 (0) 22 738 66 19 - Fax: +41 (0) 738 82 48
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or wdpca@wwsf.ch
Internet: YouthEngage.com
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• YouthEngage.com
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