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Ombudsman for children in East Africa Kenya and Uganda Professor Willy-Tore Mrch University of Troms Faculty of health sciences, RKBU Annual IY conference, Wales,April 10 th 2014

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Det biologiske prinsipp i barnevernet

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Hippocampusarea (yellow)

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Hippocampussize related to income From $5000 - $100000 pr year

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Percent score onPeabody Individual achievment test math related to parental income and age

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Rate of return to human capital investment (Opportunity costs of funds = if invested in savings)

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Ombudsperson for children An autonomus national institution, independent of the government and political parties, that ensures the accountability of government through effectively overseeing the administration of government services in its jurisdiction and providing an independent complaint mechanism for citizens in case of maladministration. The fist ombudsperson in the world was established in Norway in 1981 Today: over 100 ombudspersons around the world Wales: Childrens Commissioner for Wales (Est. 2001). A separate human rights institution.

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Convention on the Rights of the Child To protect children from violence of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989). The rights have been classified as promotion, protection and participation. Three Optional protocols: 1)On the sale of children, child pornography and child prostitution (2000) 2)On the involvement of children in armed conflicts (2000) 3)On communication procedure (2011)

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Ombudsperson for children The tasks are to monitor and investigate all institutions and agencies working with children (schools, hospitals, chilld protection, mental health) and give advice to the Government. Beeing a watch dog

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The Norwegian legal delegation Ombudsperson for children in Norway Dr. Anne Lindboe (paediatrician) Deputy ombudsperson Knut Haanes (psychologist) Legal advisor Ivar Stokkereit, UNICEF Norway Child psychologist Magne Raundalen (Former UNICEF secretary general) Dr. Willy-Tore Mrch (Professor in child and adolesent mental health and grandfather)

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Changilia Childrens home, Nairobi, Kenya Responsible for aprox. 80 children from a slum area of 300 000 people

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The Kenya situation 21,3 mill children under 18 years of age. (50% of the population) 46% of the children live in extreme powerty Only 37,5% of the children are born under satisfactory health conditions 75% of the children are deprived of basic living conditions like food, care, school and accomodation Despite that physical punishment in schools is prohibited, 80% of the children are beated by their teachers. 100% of the children are beated by their parents

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The mission in Kenya and Uganda To initiate a process for establishing an ombudsperson for children in these countries The local UNICEF had prepared for and organized meetings between the delegation and the authorities in both countries The Norwegian Embassy in Kenya and Uganda assisted with important information and practical arrangements

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Human rights agencies in Kenya Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) an autonomous national Human rights institution established under article 59 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 with the core mandate of furthering the promotion and protection of human rights in Kenya. It is a successor to the body of the same name established by an earlier Act of Parliament in 2002, that later became operational in July 2003.The KNCHR succeeded the Standing Committee on Human Rights established in 1996 through presidential decree. The Commission is established in accordance with the United Nations approved Paris Principles. The management team consists of five Commissioners and the Secretariat.

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Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) Our mission is to foster human rights, democratic values, human dignity and social justice. This will be achieved through multiple strategies and actions aimed at entrenching human rights and democratic values in the society by facilitating and supporting individuals, communities and groups to claim and defend their rights and holding state and non-state actors accountable for the protection and respect of all human rights for all peoples and groups.

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Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children (KAAC) Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children (KAACR) is national umbrella body for NGOs cooperation and exchange of information on children rights in Kenya with a membership of over 100 children agencies in Kenya.. KAACR envisions a society that protects all the rights of children and youth to survive, develop and participate in all matters concerning them. KAACRs mission is to advocate for and promote the realization of rights and responsibilities of children and youth in Kenya. Notice the R (Rights) in the text (KAACR), but not in the name of the organization

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National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) National Gender Equality Commission is a constitutional Commission established by an Act of Parliament in August 2011, as a successor commission to the Kenya National Human Rights and Equality Commission with the objectives of promoting gender equality and freedom from discrimination.

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Human rights agencies in Uganda Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) og National Council for Children (NCC) The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) was established under the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Uganda to promote and protect human rights and freedoms in the country

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National Council for Children (NCC) National Council for Children was established by Act of Parliament (NCC Act Cap 60) in 1996 as a semi-autonomous institution. MISSION: To provide a structure and mechanism which will ensure proper coordination, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programs relating to survival, development, protection and participation of the child and other connected matters OBJECTIVES: To act as a body through which the needs and problems of children can be communicated to Government and other decision-making institutions and agencies in Uganda.

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Other agencies visited by the Norwegian delegation in Uganda Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children, Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS).

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Kenya Alliance for the Advancement of Children (KAAC) The photografer is me

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Ombudsperson Anne Lindboe and The Norwegian Ambassador to Uganda Thorbjrn Gaustadsther wrote this article in Ugandas biggest newspaper

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National Council for Children (NCC) in Uganda Secretary General Kiiza Martin and the Ombudsperson for Children in Norway dr Anne Lindboe

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Meeting with The National Council for Children The photograph is me

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Meeting in The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development in Uganda.

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Working lunch with The Uganda Parliamentary Forum for Children (UPFC)

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Justice Lameck Mukasa, Head of the Criminal Division of the High Court (Middle) addressing a meeting with the visiting UNICEF Legal Advisory delegation from Norway on 16 January 2014

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Uganda has ratified several human right acts for children The Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), ratified in 1990 The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC) in 2000. International Labour Organizations convensjon no 182 about childrens labour problems in 2002 The problem is the gap between the human rights acts and the enforcement of the legal provisions. In this picture, an Ombudsperson is extremely important

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The next steps The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and UNICEF decided to appoint a task force with mandate to develop a concept report and will be further developed to a proposal for a new ombudsperson model in Uganda. The Norwegian Ombudsperson will have a consultatory role UNICEF has the practical responsibility for the report UNICEF organize the consultatory work with the different parties The Ombudsperson for children in Norway continue the professional support The Ministry og Gender, Labour and Social Development is responsible for being host for the process.

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Thank you for listening