By Patrick Kibet

Nakuru, Kenya: Former President Daniel arap Moi has urged law students in East Africa to promote eradication of harmful cultural practices that violate children’s rights.

Mr Moi, in a statement read on his behalf by Kabarak Vice-Chancellor Rev Prof Jones Kaleli, urged law students in the region to provide solutions to challenges facing the African child.

“The African child continues to face several challenges and it’s your duty to provide solutions to these challenges,” said the former Head of State, who is the institution’s chancellor.

Moi’s speech was read yesterday during the opening of the annual conference on children’s rights in Kabarak University, with participants from 15 universities from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania attending the event.

Moi noted that the East African Community envisioned interaction between citizens in the region and called for more participation of students from the entire continent.

“I envisage the participation of students from the entire continent. There is a lot to be learnt from students from other regions,” he said.

The university last Friday graduated its first lot of 48 lawyers during its ninth graduation ceremony.

In his own speech, the vice-chancellor challenged participants to also deliberate on the rights of the unborn child during the three-day forum.

The conference, which takes place against the backdrop of rising cases of children’s rights abuse and sex offences, will focus on strategies to improve existing legislation.

Acquittal of offenders

Concerns have also been raised over the high rate of acquittal of suspected sex offenders due to lack of evidence and poor police work.

Save the Children Country Director Duncan Harvey noted that despite remarkable progress in the protection of children’s rights in East Africa, there is a need to combat harmful cultural practices.

Harvey said cases of child labour and discrimination facing children with disabilities are still rampant in the region, therefore hindering their healthy development.

“East Africa has made great strides in enacting general and specific legislations. However, a lot needs to be done to ensure governments are held to account,” Harvey said. He noted the conference will create interest for protection of children’s rights and recommend policy framework review.