Poster: Counter Human Trafficking Syposium for FBOs and Grassroots in EA

Contact consolationeastafrica@gmail.com or 0736 935 387,  and 0720 812 638 or 0720 444 545

Programme: Counter Human Trafficking Symposium for the Faith Based and Grassroots Organizations in East Africa

Counter Human Trafficking Symposium for the Faith Based and Grassroots Organizations in East Africa

Tuesday 22^nd to Thursday 24^th Nov.2011

Scientific Committee

1. Richard Ochanda

2. Elias Mokua

3. Paul Kisolo

4. Kuria Njenga

5. Mary IRCK

PROGRAM

 TUESDAY 22^ND NOVEMBER 2011

 8.00-8.30 hrs: Registration Hall A

 8.30 to 10.30 hrs: First Session Welcome and Introduction Moderator Paul Kisolo, Executive Consultant KARDS

 Practical Experiences I

1. Combating Human trafficking along the Kenya Coastline – Paul Adhoch – Trace Kenya, Mombasa

2. Commercial sex workers in Mombasa and exposure to human trafficking- Ruth Lewa, Solwodi, Mombasa

3. Human Trafficking in the Great Lakes Region: Focus on Rwanda, Burundi and the Congo Region. John Ndayishimiye. Koinonia Community. Nairobi

4. Organization landscape and social innovation amongst the FBOs and CSO’s tackling the problem of Human Trafficking in East Africa- Richard Muko Ochanda, KARDS, Nairobi

 11.00 to 13.00 hrs: Practical Experiences  II  Hall A: Moderator  Richard Muko Ochanda

 4. Experiences of those affected by the problem of human trafficking- Joseph Kamau-Former Coordinator, Peace and Justice Commission, Tangaza, Nairobi

5. How the human trafficking problem contributes towards the street children phenomena-Joyce Mango- Hope for the Children, Dar es Salaam

6. Problems encountered by domestic workers and their susceptibility to human trafficking. Albert Masawe, REST, Dar es Salaam

 11.00 to 13.00 hrs: Practical Experiences  III Class C4: Moderator Carolyne Wairimu

 7. Vulnerability of women in Nairobi’s poor areas and exposure to Human Trafficking- Martha Mwende- Kivuli Youth Group, Nairobi

8. Environmental concern in relation to countering human trafficking –  Godfrey Rayo Kilei-REG, Nairobi

9. Refugees and vulnerability to human trafficking- Dr. Andre Niyonsaba –UNILAC, Nairobi

 

 11.00 am to 13.00 hrs: Practical Experiences  IV Hall A: Moderator Kuria Njenga

11. Resource mobilization opportunities and challenges for the counter Human trafficking organizations in East Africa- Paul Kisolo- KARDS, Nairobi

12. Social  networking amongst the counter human trafficking organizations in East Africa and data management-Richard Muko Ochanda, KARDS, Nairobi

13. Attracting media attention to enhance counter trafficking work amongst the FBOs and the grassroots. Esther Kabugi, Koinonia Community, Nairobi

 14.00 to 16.00 hrs: Psychological and Emotional Care for the Traumatized Hall A: Moderator, Ruth Lewa

14. Enhancement of trauma healing through support structures; focus on trafficked victims and badly exploited persons.  William Omondi –Chief counselor  Koinonia Community, Nairobi

15. Trauma counseling and debriefing for the seriously emotionally disturbed; focus on human trafficking victims- Marcellina Obudo -Rescou Counseling Center, Nairobi

16.  Human Psyche in Human Trafficking: A self Consulted Decision: Nuru Ya Nyota, Nairobi

16.00 to 17.00 hrs: Performance by FERN POETRY

 WEDNESDAY 23^RD NOVEMBER 2011

 8.30 to 10.30  Moral Reflection: Hall A: Moderator Paul Adhoch

16. Theological reflection on the problem of human trafficking- Dr. Elias Mokua-Jesuit Hakimani Center, Nairobi

17. Selfishness, pursuit for economic success vs. morality, Richard Muko Ochanda, KARDS, Nairobi.

11.00 to 13.00 hrs: Community Participation I Hall A: Moderator Joyce Mango

18. Student role in mitigating human trafficking; focus on tertiary institution-Kuria Njenga- IMCS, Nairobi 

19. The role of community media groups in tackling human trafficking, Faith Mwende, KOMNET, Nairobi

20. How FBOs can act to counter human trafficking- Pastor Allan Asava,  Purpose for Living Church, Nairobi

11.00 to 13.00 hrs: Community Participation II Class Hall C: Albert Masawe

21. Soliciting the collaboration of peace and justice commissions in combating the Human Trafficking problem from the national to the grassroots-Joseph Kamau-Former coordinator Peace and Justice, Tangaza College,Nairobi

22. The role of performing arts in mitigating human trafficking-Bernard Muhia – Fern Poems, Nairobi

11.00 to 13.00 hrs: Education and Empowerment Class C4: Godfrey Kilei

23. Primary adult education as a strategy to mitigate against Human Trafficking-Kivuli Language Centre

24. The role of technical education in reducing the vulnerability to Human Trafficking – Eric Kirea- Diakonia Institute, Nairobi

25. Education as a mitigating tool against human trafficking- Felix Shivachi-  Topmark, Nairobi

14.00 to 16.00 hrs: Legal and Judicial Assistance Wednesday Hall B: Moderator, Tom Owenga

26. The legal aspect and human trafficking-Radek Malinowisky, HAART, Nairobi

27. The Kenya Anti Trafficking Law and Ensuing Implementation Challenges – Richard Muko, KARDS, Nairobi

28. The Tanzania Anti Trafficking Law and Ensuing Implementation Challenges – Albert Masawe, REST, Dar es Salaam

29. The Legal Chalenge vs Child Labour and the Need for Survival: Experience of AFCIC in Thika Municipality.  Phillip Wairire, AFCIC and KLAW, Thika.

16.00 to 17.00 hrs: East or West Home is best. Sanalimu Art Ensemble

THURSDAY 24^th NOVEMBER 2011

8.30 to 10.30 hrs: Monitoring and Evaluation Hall A Thursday: Mary IRCK

29. Counter Human Trafficking Interventions Impact assessment using the RE-AIM framework, Tom Omwenga, Child Aid Organization, Nairobi

30. Counter Human Trafficking Interventions Impact assessment using the Rainbow Score Card, Paul Kisolo, KARDS, Nairobi

31. Knowledge management for improvement of human trafficking practices-Sammy Mwangi-Consolation East Africa, Nairobi

 11.00 to 13.00 hrs: Social Cultural and Political Influences Hall A Dr. Andre Niyonsaba

32. Social-cultural aspect of human trafficking- Caroline Wairimu – HAART, Nairobi

33. Masculinity as a social construct promoting human trafficking- Charles Koech-Men for Equality, Nairobi

34. ICT and Problems Related to Human Trafficking. Harrison Kyalo, Koinonia Community, Nairobi

35. The Kenyan National Anthem as a tool against exploitation and human trafficking – George Ndikwe, KOMNET, Nairobi

14.00 to 16.00 hrs: Close up session and summary:

36. Moderator, Paul Kisolo Paul Adhoch-Trace Kenya,  Ruth Lewa-Solwodi and Richard Ochanda-KARDS

16.00 to 17.00: Vigilante Judges Drama by Rafiki Mwafrika

For any further information kindly call +254 736 935 387 or 0720 444545 or 0720 812 638

A Counter Human Trafficking Symposium for the Faith based and Grassroots Organizations in East Africa 22nd to 24th November 2011

Human Trafficking is a dehumanizing crime that reduces people to economic subjects. Past studies have found that victims of human trafficking in East Africa are used for labor, ritual or sexual purposes. In extreme cases their organs are extracted to be sold to rich patients locally or in the west.

There are also some reports indicating that the extracted organs may be used for witchcraft, superstitious and other unknown purposes. A practice that was highly reported in East Africa is that of child sale which involved medics and religious people. The children are sold to rich childless families or other people that may require them for other reasons. Five main reasons have been established as the push factors of human trafficking problem in East Africa. They include poverty, greed, corruption, war and lack of education.

Human trafficking problem is experienced in politically unstable areas where boys are recruited for combat purposes and girls for sexual exploitation and labor by the militia groups. Economically stable countries attract people mainly for labor and for sexual exploitation. In East Africa, human trafficking culprits include extended family members and acquaintances who abuse the indigenous culture of generosity. Children homes have also not been spared for trusting unscrupulous adopters. International human trafficking in East Africa is fuelled by bogus employment agencies.

Governments, non governmental, faith based and grassroots organizations are slowly becoming important players in spreading the awareness against this vice and in assisting trafficked victims. In their innovative approaches to address the problem of human trafficking they exemplify a social welfare and empowerment structure amongst the poor.

KARDS, Consolation East Africa, Jesuit Hakimani Centre and Diakonia Institute of Nairobi  and Trace Kenya of Mombasa amongst other faith based and grassroots organizations are pleased to welcome you to a counter human trafficking symposium that will be held from the 22^nd to  24^th of November 2011. This symposium amongst other aims will hope to fulfill the following objectives:

• Enable participants understand the concept of human trafficking
• Share knowledge, skills and experiences from different FBOS and grassroots working to fight against the problem of human trafficking
• Understand different tools  and resources (both legal, economic and psycho social) available for victim assistance
• Create peer to peer linkages aiming to promote effective collaboration and networking amongst counter human trafficking organizations.

During the symposium there will be cultural counter human trafficking performances by Sanalimu, HAART and Riruta Health Project amongst others. Several poems from different secondary schools will also be recited by Fern Poems.  Organizations that will like to share their experiences of countering the problem of human trafficking are advised to get in touch with us through our contacts below.

You are kindly requested to contribute Kshs. 1,500 (one thousand five hundred only) that will go towards expenses such as certification and meals. You are also kindly requested to communicate to us incase of financial difficulties.

Email: consolationeastafrica@gmail.com, Telephone: 0720 812 638, 0736 935 387

Environment degradation leaves 12m Ugandans poor

Kampala

Uganda is one of four least developed countries identified by a UN agency as having at least a third of its population poor due to environmental degradation.

The 2011 Human Development Report by the United Nations Development Programme, which was launched worldwide on Wednesday under the theme, ‘Sustainability and Equity: A Better Future for All,’ warns that development in the world’s poorest countries could be halted or even reversed by mid-century unless bold steps are taken now to slow climate change, prevent further environmental damage, and reduce deep inequalities within and among nations.

According to the report, which was launched ahead of crucial global climate change talks to be held in Durban, South Africa in December, runaway growth in consumption among the best-off people in the world is putting unprecedented pressure on the environment.

“Today, there are more than 900 cars per 1,000 people of driving age in the US and more than 600 in western Europe, but fewer than 10 in India. US households on average have more than two television sets, whereas in Liberia and Uganda less than 1 household in 10 has a television set. Domestic per capita water consumption in the very high Human Development Index (HDI) countries, at 425 litres a day, is more than 6 times that in the low HDI countries, where it averages 67 litres a day,” says the report.

While consumption is high in countries with the highest human development indices, low developed countries face high “household-level deprivations due to the degradation of the environment that contributes to multidimensional poverty.

The UNDP measures multidimensional poverty using an index (MPI), by assessing deficits in health, education, and living standards. The agency combines both the number of deprived people and the intensity of their deprivations to measure the MPI.

“Overall, environmental deprivations disproportionately contribute to multidimensional poverty, accounting for 20 per cent of the MPI— above their 17 per cent weight in the index. In rural areas, the average is 22 per cent of poverty, compared with 13 per cent in urban areas. In Mongolia, Peru, Swaziland and Uganda such deprivations account for more than 30 per cent of multidimensional poverty,” says the report.

UNDP representative in Uganda Theophane Nikyema said they hoped that the report’s findings and recommendations would help inform national debates on sustainable development in Uganda.

holuka@ug.nationmedia.com

US condemns government for human rights violations

Kampala

The US government has condemned what it called the “deteriorating” human rights situation in Uganda and asked the country’s leaders to respect civil liberties of all citizens, including minority groups.

Department of State’s Spokesperson Victoria Nuland in a statement issued on Wednesday, expressed concern that the government has “failed to respect freedoms of expression, assembly and the media”.

“(The) United States is concerned about Uganda’s deteriorating human rights record,” she noted, adding: “Recently, the Ugandan government has failed to respect freedoms of expression, assembly, and the media, as well as its commitment to protect the human rights of all Ugandans.”

Washington’s public disapproval over human rights abuses in Uganda, its strategic security ally in the fragile Great Lakes region comes a day after London-headquartered rights group, Amnesty International, said in a report that President Museveni is maintaining power through “repression”.

It noted that the regime had become intolerant to dissent and narrowed the space for democratic expression by introducing draconian legislation and harassing, intimidating as well as slapping criminal charges on opposition political leaders, civil society activists and journalists.

Uganda’s reputation has been soiled internationally by its security forces’ violent crackdown on walk-to-work demonstrators in April and May that resulted in the death, from bullet wounds, of about a dozen people, the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) said in a separate report on Wednesday.

“More than anything, Besigye could have said or done,” the Centre notes, “the images capturing the government’s heavy-handed response badly damaged the legitimacy of Museveni regime, both domestically and internationally.”

The ACSS, located at the National Defence University in Washington D.C., undertakes research and analysis to inform decisions of US policy makers as well as foster open dialogue on Washington’s strategic priorities, among them African security matters.

In its latest report titled; Africa and the Arab Spring: A New Era of Democratic Expectations, the Centre lumps Uganda together with Zimbabwe among 10 African countries it says have “semi-authoritarian” political regimes. The leaderships are ranked as consolidating democracies, democratisers, semi-authoritarian and autocracies. In East Africa, Rwanda falls in the worst category.

Ms Nuland also raised the red flag over the house arrest of FDC party leader, Dr Kizza Besigye, using the colonial-era ‘preventive arrest’ legislation whenever he attempts to walk to work. She criticised government’s recent introduction of a draconian Public Order Management Bill that she said targets government critics and aims to suffocate political activism.

Yesterday, Information Minister Mary Karooro Okurut said the government is being criticised unfairly. “It’s only those who engage in unlawful acts that are handled by police and that cannot amount to violation of human rights,” she said.

Makerere University Political Science Professor Aaron Mukwaya, however, said public agitation over a gloomy economy and political mistreatment of regime opponents shows Mr Museveni’s February landslide re-election was “theoretical”. He cautioned government not to wish away the problems without fixing the economy and democratising politics. He blamed the government of not punishing the corrupt and said the current economic meltdown is as a result of the thieves in government.

tbutagira@ug.nationmedia.com

Rape victims’ case against British soldiers closed

By Job Weru

Hope for scores of pastoralist women for compensation for rape allegedly committed by British soldiers have dimmed.

This is after a lawyer representing them terminated the case.

British lawyer Martin Leigh Day told The Standard there was insufficient evidence to prove the allegations in a British court.

And in an ironic twist of fate, it is the unwillingness of the Kenyan police to provide required evidence that has sealed the victims’ fate.

“The evidence in terms of original supporting documents seems to have disappeared. Without those documents, we have no chance of proving such serious allegations,” Mr Day observed in a letter to The Standard.

The correspondence also reads in part …”Particularly where the Royal Military Police came to the view after its three-year investigation that there was not enough evidence to mount prosecutions in Britain.”

Further, the lawyer claimed that efforts to track historical details and reports made to Kenya police by the claimants at the time were fruitless.

“Despite pressing the police on a number of occasions, they were unable to uncover any further information that would help in the bringing of your claims,” noted Day in the correspondence that was also sent to the victims.

Compensation

He continued: “In light of the above, we are sorry that your claims for compensation against the British Army are not strong enough to be pursued further, and it is therefore with great regret that we have been forced to conclude our work.”

The lawyer, however, added that the matter filed by the Mau Mau against the British Government was still proceeding well.

“Having succeeded in the claims on behalf of the Maasai/Samburu who were injured by the British military unexploded ordnance, and with the Mau Mau claims half-way through the court process, we remain committed to assisting Kenyans who have had difficulties as a result of British entities.

“I am only desperately disappointed we have not been able to succeed in these claims,” he noted.

Mr Peter Kilesi, who worked with Leigh Day Company, said the rape victims were from Doldol area in Laikipia County, Isiolo and Marsabit counties and Archers Post, Wamba and Maralal areas in Samburu.

In 2003, the lawyer successfully secured compensation amounting to more than Sh560 million from the British Government for tens of victims of unexploded ordnances left in grazing grounds by soldiers on training.

But in a letter to Day, Mr Johnson ole Kaunga, the Executive Director of the Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation, said it was regrettable that the victims might lose out.

“It is also regrettable that the Kenyan Government is silent on this issue while there was evidence that rape was committed,” said Kaunga, whose organisation steered the investigations.

Dropout among pupils worries Taita education officer

School dropout rate in Taita district has increased because of child abuse, an education officer has said. Taita district education officer Samuel Nyantika said more than 700 pupils, mainly girls, drop out of school every year “Out of 1,700 KCPE registered candidates this year, only 877 are  sitting for the examination starting next week.Where do the rest go?” posed Nyantika.

Nyantike raised the alarm during a district security meeting in Wundanyi town which was chaired by area DC Njenga Miiri. The meeting was attended by chiefs from all locations in the district. He accused the chiefs of laxity in fighting child abuse. However, the chiefs shifted the blame to the parents saying they do not cooperative in dealing with child abuse cases. “The parents are to blame since they are usually not cooperative when we want to arrest the culprits. Some even surrender their title deeds to bail out the culprits when they are taken to court,” said chief Constance Lundi.

Nyantika concurred with the chiefs saying the parents collude with suspects while others don’t report the cases. “This year 10 cases were reported in the district and I keep on wondering how many were reported to the police,” he lamented. He said that last year 26 cases were reported to his office although very few reached the police and courts.

Zambia won’t enact pro-gay laws to get aid, says official

By ELIAS MBAO NATION Correspondent Lusaka, Wednesday
Posted  Wednesday, November 2  2011 at  20:15

Zambia will not enact pro-homosexuality laws in a bid to get British aid, a Government spokesperson said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron this week said Britain will consider withholding aid to countries that do not recognise gay rights, after leaders of the 54-nation Commonwealth meeting in  Australia failed to adopt reforms on homosexuality.

Zambia’s chief government spokesperson Given Lubinda said the southern African nation would only enact laws supported by its citizens and in line with their culture.

“David Cameron must be reminded of what we agreed when we met in Paris for the Paris Declaration. Cameron was there, I was there,” said Mr Lubinda, an opposition parliamentarian at the time the Paris Declaration was penned.

He added: “When we met in Ghana, we came up with the Accra Agenda for Action and both those declarations are that no country will use its aid to influence the policies of an aid receiving country.”

He said Zambia was a sovereign state and would make independent decisions on which laws to enact.

“It is wrong for Mr Cameron to try and use aid as a way of influencing policies and laws of Zambia or any other country for that matter,” said Mr Lubinda, the country’s Minister of Information, Broadcasting and Tourism.

“Zambia will not be pressured to formulate laws or policies by any foreign government,” Mr Lubinda told Lusaka-based Hot FM Radio

Earlier, Prime Minister Cameron told the BBC: “We want to see countries that receive our aid adhere to proper human rights, and that includes how people treat gay and lesbian people.”

Zambia, constitutionally a Christian nation with about 13 million people, is largely conservative and many citizens are opposed to homosexuality.

Neighbouring Botswana’s ex-president Festus Mogae – chairperson of a grouping of prominent African fighting Aids – last year sparked controversy while visiting Zambia when he urged African governments not to enact laws that criminalise homosexuality and sex work.

Apart from South Africa that has laws that protect homosexuality though uneasily, other countries in the 15-nation regional bloc – the Southern African Development Community (SADC) – are mainly uninterested in gay and lesbian rights.

Ghana tells off UK over threat on gays

By FRANCIS KOKUTSE NATION Correspondent in ACCRA
Posted  Thursday, November 3  2011 at  18:34

British Prime Minister David Cameron has become Ghanaians’ worst enemy for the moment as several people have called into radio stations to insult him for daring to threaten that countries that do not respect the rights of homosexuals would face aid cuts.

Some infuriated listeners have dared Mr Cameron to go ahead with his threat to cut aid to Ghana because, they are prepared to support the government in any backlash that would follow.

President John Atta Mills has also come out to state that, even though his government appreciated aid from its development partners, the country was not ready to accept aid  with conditions that had  the tendency to destroy the social fabric of the society.

His position has touched a national cord and for once, it is like Ghanaians of all shades have decided to form a  national consensus  to make the practice of e homosexuality illegal.

Flowing with the moods of the time, President Mills said, “let me also say that whilst  we acknowledge all the financial assistance and all the aid which has been given to us by our development partners, we will not accept any aid with strings attached if that aid will not inure to our interest or the implementation or the utilisation of that aid with strings attached would rather worsen our plight as a nation or destroy the very society that we want to use the money to improve”.

In the past few months, the issue had become a heated national debate and reached its peak this week following reports that UK Prime Minister David Cameron has threatened to withdraw aid to  countries that do not legalise homosexuality.

President  Mills has confirmed that, he would not support any initiative that would change the laws to decriminalise the practice of homosexuality even at the risk of suffering aid cuts that might follow the threats by Prime Minister Cameron.

Speaking to journalists at the Osu Castle (State House), President Mills said, Ghana was not ready to take step that would destroy the country’s culture and beliefs, adding that, “Prime Minister Cameron should have taken into account the fact that, social and cultural circumstances were not the same as it prevails in the UK.

The people of the UK may accept the practice but, our people frown on it.”

President Mills who has touted his Christian believe ever since assuming office said, “I as president of this nation will never initiate or support any attempt to legalise homosexuality in Ghana”.