Permanent Mission of the Repwblic of Kenya to the tJnited l,{ations
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STATEMENT BY H.E.MR. Z.D. MUBURI-MUITA AMBASSADO R/PERMAN REPRESE ENT NTATIVE OFTHEREPUBLIC KENYA THEUNITED OF TO NATIONS TOTHE THIRD COMMITTEE ON AGENDA ITEM 66: "PROMOTION AND PROTECTION THE RIGHTSOF CHILDREN" OF (a) Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children (b) Follow-up to the SpecialSessionon Children THURSDAY OCTOBER 2007 LB, UNITED NATIONS, YORK NEW
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Mr. Chairman. Sinceit is the first time that I make this statementin the Third Committee underyour leadership, may I take this opportunity to express my personal pleasure and congratulateyou for the continued excellent stewardship the affairs of the Committeeand assureyou of our unreserved of supportthroughoutyour tenure. At the outset, I thank the Secretary-General his comprehensive informative for and reportson this AgendaItem. We believethat they would go a long way to definingand chartingout the way forwardon this importantissueand debate. Confronted the deplorable by and distressful conditions affecting millions children,world leaders gathered of for deliberations a specialsessionof the GeneralAssembly in five yearsago and concluded adoptinga by declaration and plan of actionentitled "A World Fit For Children".Kenyahas beenfaithfulin its commitmenr to alleviation the plight of its childrenin accordance of with the set of 10 principles and objectives the of declaration and plan of action. We acknowledge that investing childrenand respecting in their rightslaysthe foundation sustainable for ano equitablesocio-economic transformationnecessary the eradication poverty and injusticeand the for of attainment peaceand securityin our society. of Mr. Chairman, We in Kenyarecognize that the goals and idealsset forth in the Millennium Declaration and "World Fit For Children"will remain mere platitudesuntil they are transformedinto actionabledomesticlegislation and integratedinto the design, development,implementation, and evaluationof nationaldevelopment plans, policies strategies, and programmes. Kenyawas in the front ranksof memberstatesto haveratifiedthe Convention the Rights the Childand on of the two optionalprotocols involvement Children ArmedConflict on of in and the one on ChildProstitution and Pornography. This was followed-upwith the enactmentof the ChildrenAct 2001 which domesticated the Convention and continuesto providea legal frameworkfor the realization children's of rightsin Kenyaand codifies the rightsof the child into justiceable rightsunderour national laws. Kenya ratified the African Charter on the Rights and welfare of Children which, amongst other responsibilities, obligatesthe state to protectand supportthe family.The charter also provides gender for equalitywith respectto the rightsand responsibilities mattersof up bringingand maintenance children in of by their naturalparentsirrespective their maritalstatus. of The SexualOffences Act 2006 providesfor the Protection Children of from Sexualabuse,specifically from incest, defilement, child prostitution, child pornography,child sex tourism and trafficking for sexual exploitation. Mr. Chairman, Kenya realizes that the existencein our societyof certaincustomarypractices which relegatechildrento secondarystatus in decision-making even in matters which affect them is an impedimentto the full realization the rights of children,The governmenthas made deliberateefforts to raise awareness of of children's rights and to enhancepublic consciousness the need to respectthem in appreciation the of of fundamental role of childrenin shapingour destinyas a nation.We recognize and appreciate sterlingrole the played by internationalbodies and civil society organizations in conjunctionwith the Governmentin articulating rightsof the childand in raising the the profileof children the affairsof our country. in

Mr. Chairman, Kenyais convinced maternaland child healthis the elixirthat will that the health of its citizens,particularly fufther transform our country into a working and productivenation.The governmentis determined to provideto all its citizens qualitative, healthcare.The National Reproductive Health affordableand accessible DeliveryStrategy 7997-20L0continues to provide a framework for the promotion of safe motherhoodand child survivaland has been underpinned the provision free healthservices publichealthinstitutions by of at for all childrenunderthe age of five years. Kenyaalso adoptedthe NationalHealthStrategicPlan2005-2010 which integratedmillennium development goals and a world fit for children goals and targets which are key components towardsan operational healthcare system. comprehensive We have recorded Programme Immunization credibleimmunization coverageunderthe KenyaExpanded on (KEPI) against immunisabledeceases.Widespreadprovisionof treated mosquito nets, public health initiatives,expanded medical facilities and deployment of more medical personnelhas resulted in a significant declinein the rate of childand maternalmortality due to malariainfections. Mr. Chairman, It is in the field of educationthat Kenya has achievedthe most dramaticsuccessin terms of progress goalsand the objectives a world fit for children, towardsachieving both the millenniumdevelopment of The go introduction the universalfree primary educationin 2003 saw enrollmentin primaryschools up by of about 2 millionchildren.Althoughover one millionchildrenof school-going mainlyfrom the pastoralist age inhabiting communities the arid and semi-aridareasand from the informalurban settlements remainout of is to school, the government seekingsolutions ensurethat they are facilitated enroll. to Amongthe measures place includethe establishment boarding in of and mobileprimaryschools amongthe pastoralist into the educational communities and the integration informalschools of systempafticularly those programme The introduction the school-feeding already in existencein urban informalsettlements. of in programme enhancing food-deficient areashas reinforced free education the in enrollment.In the education sector,we would like to thank UNICEF, WFP, UNDPand other partnersfor their valuableand continued resources assistance. The foregoing notwithstanding are still far from adequateand we appealfor an partnership this regard. in expanded The government has also adopteda policyon early childhood education with a view to improving enrollment at that level. From next year the governmentwill scraptuitionfees in secondary whichis expected schools to enhancethe rates of transitionfrom primary to secondary schools. The governmenthas rehabilitated, equippedand staffed 750 youth polytechnics and plansto establish 1,250others over the next five years with a view to facilitatingthe training of children who do not manage the transitionfrom primaryto secondary schoolsin craft, technicaland informationcommunication technology skillswhich will give them access employment to opportunities. Mr. Chairman, The ravagesof povertyand of HIV/AiDShave resultedin high numbersof orphanedand other vulnerable children.The governmenthas adopted a national policy and plan of action on orphansand vulnerable which provides frameworkfor improving children a the plightof disadvantaged children. Kenyabelieves that children the world sharea commondestinyas members the humanraceand that globalcollaboration of of is of essential success securingand advancingthe well-being all the world'schildrenwithoutwhichthe to in peaceand security, ideals universal of the ultimatechallenge the world community of cannotbe achieved. I Thank You!