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's not an official emergency shelter. But girls fleeing forced marriage, rape, or suffering from genital mutilation always find an open door, a warm 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 struggle began with a small role in a child protection project run by the local organization SND* and supported by Terre des Hommes and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development**: Mama Shamsia became one of many local resource 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 ensure the children's protection.
"They tell me to be quiet. I shouldn't interfere with tradition. But how can I be quiet 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 an early age. Approximately 80 percent are affected by genital mutilation – a world-class rate. Although genital mutilation and child marriage are prohibited in Kenya, they are nevertheless widespread in the Moyale district.
All of this must 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 identify perpetrators and bring them to justice. She convinces parents to send their daughters to school and raises awareness among teachers about how to deal with traumatized girls. She gives media interviews and speaks her mind. Not everyone likes that: Mama Shamsia is often threatened. But she can defend herself and is not alone.
Together with her, over 20 civil and government institutions under the umbrella of the SND are fighting to abolish practices that violate girls' rights. With success: In Moyale district, more and more girls are going to 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. This is how child protection begins."
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* SND: Strategies for Northern Development
** BMZ: Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development