Paralegals help create a world fit for children

As the world marks Universal Children’s Day on November 20, children’s rights advocates in Kenya are being given legal training to enable them to do more to protect children.

Milkah - a mother living in Kawangware, Kenya - has to live with the trauma of her daughter being sexually abused by a relative and infected with HIV. She still has to see the abuser every day, as well as those who persuaded her to cover up the crime.

When child abuse happens within close-knit networks of neighbours, relatives and friends, parents often fear revenge or public ridicule if they break their silence. But now, in Kawangware, communities are tackling the problem.

Children’s rights advocates in the community had identified that inadequate legal knowledge and lack of co-operation from the police have been major obstacles to their work. Now they have received paralegal training, and a partnership with the local police force has been established.

Some 120 paralegals graduated in June, drawn from different sectors, age groups and locations. They are skilled in investigation, detection, documentation, classification and reporting procedures of child abuse, and counselling.

“Now I am able to discern subtle forms of abuse - emotional, psychological. I can help a victim follow the criminal procedure code; ensure proper reporting to the police and obtain medical help,” says one of the newly-trained team.

The paralegals receive reports on abuse which may come from a wide range of sources. Depending on the nature of the case, the information is passed to the police, hospital or social workers.

Though the training has helped the volunteers to find innovative ways of dealing with problems in the community, there are still many challenges facing them. Changing the culture of keeping abuse within families a secret will inevitably take time, and the advocates often find their resources cannot meet the demands of all those that need help.

Challenges aside, the police, provincial administration, the public and civil organisations welcomed the paralegals during their graduation ceremony held at the Kawangware district commissioner’s office.

“This increase of sources of help for children in difficult circumstances is a bold step marking the start of a long journey,” said Agnes Wangui, a volunteer social worker.