This archive report was first published on 10 June 2020.
Kenya is taking significant steps to ensure that children have access to justice, a fundamental right and a foundation for promoting all other human rights.
The government is developing a statute to address emerging issues in the children's sector, with the Principal Secretary for Social Protection, Mr. Nelson Marwa, emphasizing the importance of accessible and friendly justice for children.
Speaking during the launch of the Day of the African Child Celebrations at the National Social Security Fund Building, Mr. Marwa highlighted the government's commitment to consolidating efforts to overcome challenges impeding the realization of children's justice.
Kenya has taken cognizance of the fact that access to justice is a fundamental right and a foundation for the promotion of all other human rights, a cause that made the country a leader in the domestication of international and regional instruments included in the constitution.
The Children Act 2001 entrusts various bodies and actors with the responsibility of securing children's rights and provision of welfare and correctional services.
Mr. Marwa commended organizations that have continued to support and popularize the toll-free child helpline 116, which provides children with a safe avenue for reporting child rights violations.
He also recognized the collaborative effort required for children's justice, acknowledging the work of Non-Governmental agencies and legal practitioners who provide pro bono legal services to children in the justice system.
Kenya is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, and other international instruments.
