Kenya: Against abuse and forced marriage
Mama Shamsia's house is located on the outskirts of the small town of Moyale in northern Kenya. It is not an official emergency shelter. But girls fleeing forced marriage, rape, or female genital mutilation always find an open door, a big heart, and professional help here.
Mama Shamsia speaks her mind. She challenges traditional myths about child marriage and female genital mutilation, she ensures that perpetrators are arrested, and she encourages girls to say "no." No to abuse, to silence, to shame: "I tell every girl who walks through my door: You are not the problem. You are the reason we fight."
Her fight began with a small role in a child protection project run by the local organization SND* and supported by Terre des Hommes and the BMZ**: Mama Shamsia became one of many local contact persons. These so-called "Community Resource Persons" keep their eyes and ears open to uncover violations of children's rights and, with the help of SND, initiate steps to protect the children.
"They tell me to be silent. I shouldn't interfere with tradition. But how can I be silent when a 13-year-old is forced to marry a 40-year-old man?"
In the project area around Moyale, violations of children's rights primarily affect girls: they are married to older men, often raped, and become pregnant at a young age. Approximately 80 percent are affected by female genital mutilation – a world-leading rate. Although female genital mutilation and child marriage are illegal in Kenya, they are nevertheless widespread in the Moyale district.
All of this needs to change, Mama Shamsia believes. That's why she not only offers her own private home as a refuge, but also works closely with the local police and judiciary to track down perpetrators and bring them to justice. She convinces parents to send their daughters to school and educates teachers on how to deal with traumatized girls. She gives interviews to the media and doesn't mince words. Not everyone likes this: Mama Shamsia is often threatened. But she can defend herself and she is not alone.
Together with her, over 20 civil and state institutions under the umbrella of the SND are fighting to abolish practices that violate girls' rights. With success: In the Moyale district, more and more girls are attending school, and more and more perpetrators are being prosecuted and convicted. "I'm not a rich woman," says Mama Shamsia. "But I have an open door and two ears that can listen. That's how protecting children begins."
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* SND: Strategies for Northern Development
** BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development