By Betty Luke
Clerics in Isiolo County have called for a concerted efforts to end human rights violations including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), forced marriages and human trafficking against children.
Isiolo Interfaith Network Chairperson Ahmed Sett said children were most vulnerable and at high risk of being tricked into the vices that cause them lifetime trauma or even death.
Poverty, unemployment and migration are among the issues that increase people’s vulnerability to abuse and exploitation.
The official said there was need for parents to closely monitor their children during the long holidays to ensure they do not suffer abuse.
“We have had incidents of children moved from one place to another for them to undergo FGM or early marriage which negatively impacts their health, life and entire well-being. The retrogressive traditions are against the guidelines of our religious teachings and must come to an end,” said Mr Sett.
He spoke during World Day against Human Trafficking celebrations at Star of Hope Association (SOHA) Girls School at Kambi ya Juu in Isiolo North constituency.
His sentiments were echoed by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) counterpart Nathan Maingi who called for increased sensitization on negative impacts of the traditions.
“The society has been greatly infiltrated by rogue people out to recruit children into evil practices. We commit to continue sensitizing our people on the need to abandon retrogressive cultural practices that violate the rights of children,” he said.
World Day Against Human Trafficking is marked on July 30 and seeks to create awareness on the dangers associated with human trafficking across the globe.
This year’s theme ‘Leave No Child Behind in the Fight against Human Trafficking’ sought to create public awareness of the vulnerability of children and calls for efforts to end vices mainly meted out to them.
“Poverty forces many parents to marry off their young daughters who after sometime are impregnated and abandoned by their husbands. Other children are smuggled to other countries by people who pretend to offer them scholarships only to harvest their organs or engage them in forced labour,” added Mr Sett.
Salvation Army’s Isiolo, Samburu Anti-Trafficking project coordinator Martin Titi said although Isiolo served as a trafficking route for migrants from neighbouring countries, residents could play a major role in ending the illegal activities by not offering guidance to the traffickers and their accomplices.
“Residents provide information that guides illegal immigrants to their destinations. There is a need for everyone to play their part to ensure we significantly reduce cases of human trafficking,” he said.
