On December 16, 2020, Parliamentarians for Global Action, in collaboration with Girls Not Brides, a global partnership of over 1000 civil society organizations committed to ending child marriage, and members of GNB’s National Partnership in Kenya, organized a webinar for Kenyan parliamentarians to discuss the need to address harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) and female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM) in the context of COVID-19.

The purpose of the webinar was to learn about the current state of harmful practices in Kenya in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and to build political will among Kenyan parliamentarians to revitalize and update the National Strategy to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage. Parliamentarians from Uganda and Zimbabwe shared their experiences and lessons learned in preparing a National Action Plan to end CEFM.

Across the region, it seems that a key to ending child marriage is to raise awareness of and implement the corresponding laws. It is also important for us to include men and boys as stakeholders in this fight and engage them in our actions. Hon. Dennitah Ghati, MP from Kenya

Parliamentarians have an important role in providing oversight for governmental policies to ensure that they reach the community level and can be successfully integrated into the social and cultural consciousness of the country. Hon. Prof. Jacquiline Oduol, MP from Kenya

The main points discussed were:  

• The legal framework to end CEFM and FGM is already in place in Kenya and Uganda. The work for MPs now is to assure the laws are monitored, implemented, enforced and programs are well-funded.
• In Kenya, there is a need to situate CEFM within a proper policy framework (National Action Plan) to provide the mechanism to transform social and gender norms.
• In Zimbabwe, “let’s keep girls in school” is a message that resonates.
• MPs have a responsibility to sensitize their colleagues in parliament.  To make a compelling case to MPs, we need data that is both quantitative and qualitative:  MPs want to see quantitative data that helps them generate votes; and, in addition, qualitative data that addresses the holistic impact of CEFM on girls’ lives and empowerment.
• We need to look at what is working in Uganda that can be shared with Kenya.
• Kenya has a robust child protection framework. CEFM has a differential impact on male and female children.  
• Engaging boys and men as allies to end CEFM is important.
• Uganda uses a “Gender Equity Certificate” in national budgeting. This could be explored as a possibility for Kenya.
• Importance of sensitization about the harmful practice, especially empowering girls to speak out against abuses and parents to protect their children.
• Being mindful of intersectionality and vulnerable groups who may be more invisible such as girls with disabilities.
• Child marriage and FGM are two issues intertwined. In communities where FGM is rampant, it also contributes significantly to girls being married off early and/or having to drop out of school.

In Uganda, the legal framework against child marriage is there. But we need to put in more efforts to empower girls to speak out when they are abused, and to educate parents on gender equality and the value of the girl child. Hon. Dr. Jovah Kamateeka, MP from Uganda

My major concern is the lack of funding to sensitize communities on the harms of child marriage because many people don’t even know they are committing a crime when they set up a child marriage.

Additionally, girlsare much more protected when they are in school. When they are at home, they are more prone to idleness and more vulnerable to harmful practices such as child marriage. Hon. Dorcas Sibanda, MP from Zimbabwe and Chair of PGA’s National Group

We call on the Government of Kenya to urgently enact a Child Marriage Policy that criminalizes child marriage distinctly and enforces Kenya's regional and international commitments on ending child, early and forced marriages. Girls Not Brides Kenya

In coordination with Girls Nor Brides’ National Partnership in Kenya, PGA will continue raising awareness and building political will among Kenyan MPs to establish a National Strategy to End Child, Early and Forced Marriage (CEFM), in line with the country’s commitment to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 in achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls by 2030.