The main objective of this program is to promote participation and protection of children in CRCDP by June 2019. Child protection is important because under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child all children have a right to be protected from harm. Protection from violence, abuse and exploitation is essential in order to ensure children’s survival and their continued healthy development as they grow towards adulthood and full citizenship. Enabling children to grow up in a protective environment means that they will develop into healthy and responsible adults, who are ready to take their place in society. All children have the right to protection. They have the right to survive, to be safe, to belong, to be heard, to receive adequate care and to grow up in a protective environment.
Over the years, cases of child abuse and defilement has been on the rise, broadcasted on news both written and media. Instances has been cases of Teacher abusing the pupil in schools, Drivers, touts and boda boda operators impregnating school children, cases of rapes and incest in families, physical assault among others. CRDP, under which the 5 implementation sites operate, has not been an exemption.
As a strategy to address this, Central Rift Community Development program plans to partner with the Children department in strengthening Community Based Child Protection Mechanisms and mainstreaming Child protection in every program being implemented.