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abuse

PREVENTION OF SUBSTANCE USE AMONG ADOLESCENTS

Beginning Nov 2017, the African Institute for Children Studies, in collaboration with the Global Center for Applied Health Research (GC-AHR) and the Center for Child Well-Being (CCWB) at Arizona State University, are implementing an evidence based substance use prevention intervention among adolescents aged between 10-12years. The project aims at implementing existing evidence informed, school-based intervention, that has been proven efficacious in drug and substance use prevention among young people. The intervention – keepin’ it REAL (kiR) – was developed by researchers from Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center (SIRC) – a constituent of School of Social Work in Arizona State University. It was designed for Latino youths and has been tested through randomized controlled trials in six cities and three countries: Phoenix Arizona, Montevideo in Uruguay and in four cities in Mexico. keepin’ it REAL (kiR) is culturally-grounded substance use prevention curriculum for grades 6-9 that has been proven effective for reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and increasing anti-drug attitudes and beliefs. kiR also enhances life skills such as decision-making and interpersonal communication. This curriculum will help youth learn how to assess the social situation in which substances are being offered, decide which resistances strategy will be most effective, and employ that strategy to resist using alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. kiR includes 10 lessons and 4 videos that were developed by kids and for kids. The proposed project will pilot the evidence based intervention in two schools in Nairobi, Kenya to determine its efficaciousness and cultural adaptability. Between the period January and June 2018, a needs assessment will be conducted to inform the design of the pilot study. The intervention research will be conducted between Nov 2018 and Oct 2019 in four primary schools in Mavoko and Embakasi East Sub-Counties.

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disability

PROMOTING RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH MENTAL DISABILITY IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM

Adults with disabilities are in the criminal justice system as (i) accused persons, (ii) convicts or (ii) awaiting administrative process under the Mental Health Act of 1963. In the year 2010, the High Court of Kenya found that it was unconstitutional to sentence persons with mental disabilities at the president’s pleasure. This created a challenge for social workers and the judiciary on what are the alternative sentencing procedures or accommodations required for offenders with special needs. In the absence of appropriate training and sensitization, law enforcement officials demonstrate lack of understanding and they can be actively hostile in their treatment of individuals with mental disability in conflict with the law. Offenders with mental disability may be indirectly discriminated against in their access to justice partly due to legal framework that is discriminatory and not responsive to their needs. These include sections of the Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Mental Health Act. Their rights to dignity, legal capacity and inclusion in the community for persons with mental disabilities, are often denied through the criminal justice system. More research needs to be done to identify the gaps in rehabilitating offenders with mental disabilities; and alternative trial and sentencing procedures to accommodate person with mental disabilities, who are likely to be sentenced under the president’s pleasure. This research would inform appropriate reforms in policy, programs, institution and processes to promote rights of persons with mental disability in the criminal justice system. The overall goal of this project is to develop a framework on access to justice for persons with disabilities within the criminal justice system. The project is funded by Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa. It is based on the premise that adult care givers form the first circle of protection for children. Therefore when adults with mental disability are incarcerated indefinitely as is often the case, their children are exposed to risks of neglect, abuse and exploitation . The specific objectives are: Document the estimated number of persons with mental disability in the criminal justice system (police/ judiciary/ health facilities/ prisons/ probation) in Kenya Document the challenges that persons with mental disability face in accessing justice in the criminal justice system. Outline the current measures being taken by the courts and probation, the policies in place to address these needs and the effectiveness of these measures. Identify the gaps in the criminal courts and probation department in addressing offenders with mental disabilities and make recommendations on how to address the gaps

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PROMOTING ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN

Empirical evidence suggests that thousands of children come into contact with the juvenile justice system (JJS) either as children in conflict with the law or in need of care and protection. Both categories of children are often at risk of abuse by the system. These include physical and emotional abuse perpetrated by the judicial officers, the process and the institutions that provide care and shelter. This is partly due to limited knowledge and inappropriate procedures and spaces for holding the children. There is not an effective Juvenile Justice Information Management System (JJIMS) in many countries to inform policy and programs. While both formal and informal justice systems have existed for several centuries, the concept of making decisions that are child right based and in the best interest of the child, is relatively new. A report by UNICEF (2002), estimated that 85% of children in the justice system were exposed to the criminal procedures, which should not be the case. This exposure often has detrimental effects to their development which may affect their developmental outcome later on in life. With an increasing number of children-specific matters being processed through both formal and informal justice systems, the question is, are the decisions made in the best interest of the child? Policy makers and other legal actors lack evidence based practices that focus on a child right centred administration of justice. AICS has championed improvement of access to justice for children through training, research and policy advocacy.

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sex abuse

PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Appreciating that 13-19% of children and youth, mostly those aged between 12 and 16years have had an experience of online sexual solicitation in the last year, and this number is rapidly growing with 88% of the 44 million Kenyans having access to mobile telephony; and over 750,000 individuals looking to connect with children across the globe for sexual purposes online at any moment. The risk of online child sexual exploitation is growing. In response to the research unearthing Online Child Sexual Exploitation (OCSE) in Kenya, Terre des Hommes Netherlands in partnership with Childline Kenya and African Institute for Children Studies has designed a two year project which aims at preventing and responding to exploitation of children in cyberspace The project is being implemented in Nairobi, Nakuru, Kisumu and Mombasa counties in Kenya, and will directly benefit: 2,280 children, 1,140 adults (including parents, teachers, religious and neighbourhood leaders and law enforcement officers); and indirectly: 800,000 people through mass media. This is a two year project investing over half a million Euros

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dsg

CONTRIBUTING TO ACHIEVEMENT OF SDG THROUGH CHILDREN AGENDA FORUM

AICS is voluntary secretariat to the Children Agenda Forum – CAF (www.childrenagendaforum.org). This is a platform for coordination of efforts of Civil Society organizations that are child focused towards implementation and monitoring of the Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Kenya. It was formed from an initiative by World Vision Kenya and Child Fund Kenya to promote engagement of child focused CSOs in drafting and implementation of SDG. The mission of the forum is promote child sensitive decision making in governance and development that Evidence backed. Left: Training of CSO representatives on County Government Budget Cycle and Effective Budget advocacy The strategic activities of the forum include: To facilitate child focused research to inform public policy and programming To undertake advocacy in the best interest of children To strengthen capacities of child focused organizations/institutions in advancing Some of the activities undertaken include training of CSO representatives on National and County Government Budgeting Process to improve effectiveness in advocacy for adequate resources allocation in best interest of children; hosting of quarterly coordination meeting to collate and disseminate information on contribution of CSOs to child protection and child welfare in Kenya. Regular attendees to the CAF meetings include Save the Children Kenya, World Vision Kenya, ANPPCAN, Volunteer Services Overseas, CFEA, Plan International Kenya, Handicap International, Terre des Homes Netherlands. The CRADLE, NISELA, East African Center for Human Rights, Children Environment and Development, CESVI, Feed the Children, Vision Africa, Mtoto News, CISP, and Pendekezo Letu.

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read

Providing access to book for children by children

AICS and The Global Storymakers (US) are promoting access to reading books for children in their own language. This often is not feasible for publishers due to low volumes in some communities. This project offers an innovative approach in which AICS mobilizes children in school and communities to form story writing and reading groups. The mentors from Global Storymakers train these children on how to write a book. The children are aided in printing of their books locally. Through these, talents are groomed, children are able to tell legendry stories and celebrate heroes on their own communities. This will contribute to providing access to reading books for 1 billion children across the Globe who currently are not able to access books in language they can understand.  

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