30 NGOS, VSLA , RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL LEADERS SENSITIZED ON INSPIRE STRATEGIES.

The sensitization meeting on prevention of violence against children through promoting INSPIRE strategies was held at Kibitos SS School. The meeting attracted 31 participants from CBOs, SACCOs, School Head teachers, in charge of healthy centre’s, CBOs, religious leaders and cultural leaders at a sub county levels. 

The meeting focused on creating awareness on INSPIRE package as a well documented and evidenced based strategies for prevention of violence against children. 

The implementing team from RICNET, RIDE Africa with support from CRVPF  explained the causes, forms/ different types of violence and what are the consequences of violence against children (VAC). The presented INSPIRE strategies as a way of responding and preventing VAC.

The participants emphasized that sometimes laws are being broken by old people for example there are some schools tend to introduce their own laws to students without parents consent and at the end it results into VAC. The Fear of death has caused many people to keep on using bad norms which are supporting violence, because the culture recommends it since fore fathers.The participants requested the health workers to concentrate on their work as the police also do the same in order to enforce the laws to be implemented. Participants emphasized the fact that poverty exacerbate vulnerability and VAC.

Mr. Happy gave a moving personal testimony of how the lack of money led to poor spouse relationship with the wife leading to divorce. The many acquired a loan for construction and its repayment lead to little money available for family use and no peace at home. He didn’t have time for children even he stopped thinking about them that they also have a right to go to school and that caused misunderstandings in his family but finally he realized it and had to correct the mistake.

The participants recommended the following practical action: Enhancement of Linkage and referral coordination mechanism between the police, health centers and community for a better response and support service to VAC survivors; positive parenting skills and counseling be emphasized at households; the police should enhance community sensitization on the laws and penal code; conduct  community sensitization on how to handle cases of VAC and live with the survivors in aright manner; the perpetrators should also be sensitized about the consequences of VAC acts.