1 December 2008 ,World AIDS Day

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About the Day World AIDS Day is observed every year on December 1st. The World Health Organization established World AIDS Day in 1988. World AIDS Day provides governments, national AIDS programs, faith organizations, community organizations, and individuals with an opportunity to raise awareness and focus attention on the global AIDS epidemic. Back in 1988, the World Health Organization and U.N. General Assembly first declared December 1 "World AIDS Day." This year marks the 20th anniversary of the annual event dedicated to remembering those we've lost to the virus and to recommitting with vigor to the fight against AIDS.

Human rights are integral to the fight against HIV/AIDS. An open and supportive rights-based approach to HIV/AIDS is essential to ensure that everyone enjoys full access to means of prevention, voluntary counselling and testing, and long-term sustainable treatment, care and support, and can live free from fear, violence and discrimination. Without such an approach, increasing numbers of people will be deprived of the possibility to live a secure and fulfilling life.

Child Sex Tourism Booms in Kenya

In wake of the elections in Kenya reports have noted an increase of children in the sex trade. Agnetta Mirikau, a child protection specialist with UNICEF Kenya, stated that they had received numerous reports that children in sex trade had rapidly increased since the election. This post-violence sex work boom is fueled as the displaced have found little resources for survival. Reports over the years have shown a regular increase in the rate of child sexual exportation, however that the situation continues to deepen in post-conflict, as desperate to survive displaced girls are turning, or being forced into sex work, to earn the cash they need to get through their daily lives. The cost of their innocence and youth is most often less than $5.

In a country with a high prevalence for gender-based violence, it is no surprise that the exploitation of children has increased in the wake of Kenya’s months of violence. High instances of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), spousal rape, child molestation, rape in refugee and IDP camps, have been know throughout the country. The case of child prostitution in Kenya is far from a new story, as the coastal areas and areas with military bases have long since been a hotspot for sex tourism and prostitution, especially with children.

A UNICEF report, Extent and Effect of Sex Tourism and Sexual Exploitation of Children on the Kenyan Coast, released in 2006 showed that some10-15,000 girls living in coastal areas, an estimated 30% of all 12-18 year olds residing in those areas were involved in prostitution. While an additional 2-3,000 girls and boys were involved in full time prostitution and 1 in 10 of children in commercial sex work are initiated before the age of 12 years old. UNICEF estimates that in total Kenya has up to some 30,000 children (under the age of 19) in the commercial sex industry.

In March 2002 the Children s Act was enacted to prohibit the economic exploitation of children and any work or labor which is deemed hazardous to a child’s physical, mental, spiritual, moral, or social development. However despite the act and the inclusion of a Human Trafficking Unit within the police force in 2003, little impact appears to be reaching the streets and those in need.

The increase of sexual exploitation lead to an increase in HIV/AIDS, due to high instances of condomless sex and as a result of the deadly myth that sex with a virgin will cure the virus. This myth has also helped to fuel the growing number of sexually exploited children.The issue of sexual exploitation of children in Kenya looks to continue as the country’s economic and political stability continues to teeter in the balance. The consequences of Kenya’s generation of lost children has yet to be felt, however due to the lingering psychological trauma the effects will leave a lasting mark on Kenya’s future socially, politically and economically.

The issue of trafficking and sexual exploitation in Kenya is not isolated isolated to Kenyans, as Kenya is a country of origin, destination country, and transit route for trafficking in persons. Many trafficking victims come from the neighboring countries of Uganda, Somalia and Sudan. Children in Kenya continue to be exploited for work as domestic servants and agricultural workers across the country. Victims trafficked out of, or through the country are often sent to European, Australia, North America, or the Middle East.
Sadly the increase of sexual exploitation of women and children Kenya is not an isolated case, as high instances of sexual exploitation, trafficking and rape are seen in many post conflict countries. One such case can be seen in my recent post on Sierra Leone, Despite Peace Sexual Violence Rages On in Sierra Leone.