Kenya to push new Act to boost children's rights

The National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS) has outlined mobilisation of resources and catering for the rights of the intersex community as some of the main challenges in implementing the new Children’s Act.

Chief executive officer Abdinoor Mohamed also outlined the war against online abuse of children as another challenge confronting stakeholders as they implement the Children’s Act 2022 that came into force in July this year.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ sensitisation forum in Mombasa, Mr Mohamed said there was a need to have standardised information and to mobilise resources from various sources to effectively address children’s needs.

State to push new Act to boost children's rights -0
Three young girls playing together on a digital tablet. Source: Getty Images

He said the Act gives roles to the county governments and urged them to join in tackling the challenges facing children’s welfare in the country.

“In documentation, we have had male and female gender. But the intersex community now poses a new challenge and we should think of a provision for others. It is especially a challenge to have a child who grew up as a girl only to grow a beard at adolescence and seek to change the name to that of a boy,” he noted.

He was joined by representatives of the Mombasa Children’s Rights Network Ms Winnie Maina and Ms Janet Nzisa.

Mohamed noted that the Children’s Act was aligned with the Constitution 2010 and seeks to give equality to all Kenyans.

Ms Maina said stakeholders were being sensitised on how to address emerging challenges such as cyberbullying, radicalisation and 50-50 parenting responsibility provided for in the Act and enforced by the courts.

“The sensitisation seeks to achieve common ground in implementing the new Act. The Act seeks to address emerging challenges such as cyberbullying and radicalisation. Children will be placed in families and homes for their care,” he said.

Ms Nzisa, who is an advocate of the High Court, said there was a need for various stakeholders to join in the efforts to provide for children’s welfare hoping the judiciary will also be part of the key stakeholders.

She said it has been difficult to provide appropriate social facilities for intersexes, such as toilets and even police cells, and yet they have a right to equality under the Constitution. Ms Nzisa noted that the number of intersexes has been growing adding that the last national population and housing census indicated that there were 1,540 members.

“It is now important to have another category in addition to the male and female gender. There is a need to have separate toilets for intersex people,” she said.

She noted that the new Act provides for alternative dispute resolution to expedite cases of children. Ms Maina said children will be represented in court by lawyers.

Parliaments

UK introduces new law to protect seafarer employment rights
Parliaments

UK introduces new law to protect seafarer employment rights

According to Nautilus International, the Employment Rights Bill is expected to introduce new protections specifically devised for seafarers, toughening the laws around collective dismissal, and cementing seafarer wage protections in UK law. The Bill, being introduced to Parliament this week, will seek to outlaw fire and rehire by requiring employers to prove there is no reasonable financial alternative to letting staff go.

Canada approves new law to develop offshore wind on its Atlantic coast
Parliaments

Canada approves new law to develop offshore wind on its Atlantic coast

Canada’s Senate has approved a new law, named bill C-49, which is set to unlock the country’s offshore renewable energy potential in the provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, on Canada’s Atlantic coast. The bill, which includes the production of wind power as well as hydrogen, now awaits royal ascent.

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education
Parliaments

California nurses applaud new law that provides transparency, improves equity in nursing education

California Nurses Association, the largest union of registered nurses in the state, applauds the signing of Senate Bill 1015 by Governor Gavin Newsom. Nurses say the new law, which was authored by Senator Dave Cortese and sponsored by CNA, is an essential step towards ensuring clinical placement opportunities for California’s future nurses, particularly for students attending public institutions like community colleges and state universities.

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language
Parliaments

Seychelles' parliament adopts motion to make sign language official language

The National Assembly unanimously adopted a motion to designate Seychelles Deaf Language as an official national language, marking a significant milestone for the islands' hearing-impaired populationin. The motion was brought forward by Regina Esparon, the Linyon Demokratik Seselwa (LDS) elected member for Glacis, on behalf of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus, coinciding with the Deaf Week 2024.

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours
Parliaments

Ireland: New law to ban disposable vapes and restrict flavours

Disposable vapes will be banned and vape flavours and colours restricted under new legislation proposed by the government. The Department of Health yesterday published the general scheme of the proposed Nicotine Inhaling Products Bill, which will introduce further restrictions on nicotine inhaling products or vapes.

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law
Parliaments

Brazil calls EU to suspend anti-deforestation law

Brasília urges the European Commission to reconsider its anti-deforestation rules, which could potentially impact Brazil’s exports by almost US$15 billion. The European legislation passed in 2022 includes a ban on the import of products from areas deforested from 2022 onwards, even if deforestation is legal in those areas. 

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property
Parliaments

UK parliament recognizes Bitcoin and digital assets as personal property

The UK Parliament has introduced the Property (Digital Assets etc.) Bill today to officially and legally recognize Bitcoin $57,732.86, cryptocurrencies, and other digital assets as personal property. This new law will, for the first time, formally protect digital assets such as Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and carbon credits under English law, News.Az reports citing Cointurk news.