Garissa embarks on campaign to address children's rights

The Tuwajibike campaign which is aiming to create awareness and address children's rights has kicked off in Garissa.

Philip Kinyota from the Center for Behaviour Change and Communications said the campaign calls for the need for various stakeholders to take responsibility by ensuring that the rights of children are protected.

"Children were facing numerous challenges of abuse and it's upon parents, teachers, law enforcers, human rights activists, among others to protect them," said Kinyota.

Speaking at a workshop in Garissa town that assembled various stakeholders on Wednesday, he said the Tuwajibike campaign brings about behavioural change to improve the well-being of the children.

He identified some of the abuses meted out against children which include; sexual abuse, early marriage, Female Genital Mutilation and denial of the right to education.

"We need to find achievable solutions to end the vice. We need long-lasting strategies to counter all this malpractice," he said.

He noted that children in the North Eastern region were facing specific challenges of poor school enrolment and cultural malpractices that were gross violations of their rights.

Godana Boru, the County coordinator for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities. (Issa Hussein)

Godana Boru, the County coordinator for the National Council for Persons with Disabilities said children with disabilities in the region had been neglected.

He urged stakeholders to ensure children with disabilities enjoyed the right to education at various schools in the region.

"Children with disabilities are the most vulnerable in the society. We need to sensitize the community to protect them against all kinds of abuse," said Boru.

Benjamin Kinyua, the county director for children's services emphasized the need for the parents to take lead responsibility in the child rights campaign.