| Kenya is hosting Africa's first-ever conference about | | | | attended the conference from Liberia. "We need to |
| the sexual abuse of children, a problem that has | | | | bring ourselves together to understand that the child |
| become one of the widest-spread and most troubling | | | | of Africa need to be developed and we should not |
| issues on the continent. Nick Wadhams has the story | | | | destroy their future. So the society, the family, the |
| for VOA from Nairobi. | | | | government and everybody we must put hands |
| More than 400 delegates gathered here for the start | | | | together to make sure that the African child is |
| of the three-day conference, which is meant to help | | | | properly protected." |
| governments and rights groups come up with ideas | | | | Recent studies have shown just how prevalent the |
| to fight the sexual abuse of children. | | | | sexual abuse of children really is across Africa. In |
| In a speech opening the conference, Kenyan Vice | | | | Zimbabwe, for example, one study found that half of |
| President Moody Awori said society is in a state of | | | | all rape cases involved children under 15 years old. |
| moral decay, and that children are increasingly at risk | | | | In one district in Uganda, meanwhile, one in three |
| of being sold, or selling themselves, into prostitution. | | | | schoolgirls and one in six schoolboys reported having |
| That's a frequent problem in urban areas and along | | | | been sexually abused, many by teachers. |
| the coast, which are destinations for foreign sex | | | | Ranya Sharawi of Sudan told VOA News that one |
| tourists. | | | | problem was simply that some African societies do |
| Yet Mr. Awori also said that sexual abuse has some | | | | not understand what child abuse is, or how to keep it |
| roots in traditional practices in Kenya. Some | | | | from happening. |
| communities encourage children to marry very young | | | | "I think first there should be advocacy for what is |
| despite national laws meant to stop the practice. And | | | | child abuse awareness for what is child abuse," said |
| studies show that most children are abused by | | | | Sharawi. "Second, I think the legislation it is very |
| people they know well -- members of their | | | | important, and third I think we should work together, |
| communities or of their own families. | | | | all Africa in the same issue, so that we can raise and |
| Delegates said that the problem must be tackled by | | | | we can find solutions." |
| the government first, but that it's the entire | | | | Some delegates at the conference say child abuse in |
| community's responsibility to protect children. | | | | Africa is linked to poverty. Children sell themselves |
| "The government has to start by legislation, and | | | | for sex or move away to live with distant relatives, |
| apart from the legislation, the society as a whole shall | | | | who abuse them. |
| be committed," said Delegate Clement Ostinis, who | | | | |