CHILD PROTECTION UNIT LAUNCHED IN KENYA, ALLEGED NEWS.
Kenya's first police unit dedicated to fighting child sexual exploitation and abuse was officially launched in Nairobi, Alleged News.
The unit was launched with support from the National Crime Agency -United Kingdom [NCA]. [1]
OPERATIONAL SINCE APRIL 2016
The unit comprises 12 officers from the National Police Service of Kenya, as well as a member of children's services.
The unit has been operational since April 2016, and has already been instrumental in safeguarding 150 children. [1]
It is pursuing 15 cases against child sex offenders, working closely with childrens' services, prosecutors, specialist doctors and the human rights organization International Justice Mission [IJM], Alleged News. [1]
SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN
In 2006, a study conducted by UNICEF and the Government of Kenya exposed the commercial sexual exploitation of children in coastal areas. [2]
At the time of the study, some ten to fifteen thousand girls living in coastal areas of Malindi, Mombasa, Kalifi and Diani were involved in casual sex work - up top 30% of all 12-18 year olds living in those areas at the time, Alleged News. [2]
A further two to three thousand girls and boys were involved in full-time year round commercial activity, Alleged News. [2]
CLIENT NATIONALITY
Overall, 38% of the clients of child sex workers consulted for the survey were Kenyan. Tourists exploiting children for sex came from many countries, Alleged News. [2]
Client nationality can be found in Tables 18 and 19, Alleged News. [3]
AGE OF INITIATION
The age of initiation for the children was between twelve and thirteen, Alleged News. [4]
Interviews with selected children, who were active sex workers, showed much earlier sexual initiation, as early as 6 to 8 years, Alleged News. [4] The girls said they had been abused by relatives or family friends, Alleged News. [4]
CASES AGAINST CHILD SEX OFFENDERS
Today, the trend continues. Some holiday-makers who travel to Kenya from abroad are sexually abusing children in Kenya, Alleged News. [5]
The Child Protection Unit of the Kenyan Police Force is pursuing 15 cases against child sex offenders, Alleged News. [1]
NCA
The NCA's International Liaison Officers and The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre [CEOP] Command have provided training, equipment and financial assistance to the Child Protection Unit [CPU] as part of a three-year collaboration between the National Police Service of Kenya and the NCA, with support from the UK Government, Alleged News. [1]
The NCA will continue to work with the National Police Service of Kenya NPS to help it establish a self-sufficient multi-agency unit, preparing the ground for similar CPU's to be set up across Kenya, Alleged News. [1]
INDECENT IMAGES
Kenya is one of the many international sources of indecent images of children viewed and shared by UK offenders and a potential destination for UK nationals hoping to avoid detection by offending abroad, Alleged News. [1]
Simon Mason of the NCA's CEOP command, said: "Indecent images of children produced in Kenya are viewed and shared in the UK and there have been cases of UK nationals going to Kenya to abuse vulnerable children. International cooperation protects vulnerable children and reduces opportunities for offenders," Alleged News. [1]
[1] http://www.simbasafekenya.com/kenya-police-force-child-protection-unit/
[2] The Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Kenyan Coast, page vi; Alleged News
http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/418%20extent_n_efect_1007.pdf
[3] The Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Kenyan Coast, pages 45 to 46; Alleged News
http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/418%20extent_n_efect_1007.pdf
[4] The Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Kenyan Coast, page 56; Alleged News
http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/418%20extent_n_efect_1007.pdf
[5] Help Stop Child Slavery in Kenya, Alleged News
https://www.walkfree.org/campaign/help-stop-child-slavery-kenya/?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.walkfree.org%2fcampaign%2fhelp-stop-child-slavery-kenya%2f&utm_campaign=KenyaChildSexTourism-BHC&utm_content=KenyaChildSexTourism-BHC_Video_Chaser_EN__22Oct16
With thanks to simbasafekenya.com, lastradainternational.org and walkfree.org
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