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Sexual Exploitation Of Children In Kenya'Is Real

NAIROBI, Kenya (PANA)-They
come in droves, arriving in
Nairobi as early as 6:30 p.m. and
Strategically position themselves
along major city thoroughfares,
ready for busienss.

They are all dressed to kill, and
thoifgh barely 12 years old. they
know their act and their customers
very well.

Others, like Jane. who will
celebrate her ninth birthday in
~ January. comes in town very early
in the morning in the company of
a woman she simply refers to as
“Auntie” and whose business is
begging in the central business
district.

She sits a few meters from her
Auntie. chatting endlessly with
other girls. When an opportune
time comes, it only takes a nod
from Auntie who had a hurried
conversation with a man minutes
earlier, and the young girl and the
man go off to an undiscloses
destination.

A good number of them are also
housed in’ Nairobi’s upmarket
housing estates by their “employ -
ers.” mostly the rich Kenyans and
foreigners alike. where they seve
their clienteles for a fee.

Down at the coastal tourist resort
city of Mombasa. the situation is
no different. as beach bovs and
girls are slowly turning them-
selves into sex slaves. transform-
ing the once beautiful tourist
destination and a family get away
resort center, into a commercial
Ses center.

Welcome to the world of child
sexual exploitation in Kenya, a
topic Which government officials
in the country concede Is vet to be
adequately addressed.

Officials of the Children’s
Department describe it as the use

HERITAGE HONORED BY
_EVENTS

By Jana Clancey
The Daily Reflector

East Carolina University has
slated events throughout February
to commemorate Black History
Month and African-American
firsts.

The Ledonia Wright Cultural
Center on the ECU campus is
sponsoring the events in conjunc-
tion with student organizations,
university departments and the
Greenville Museum of Art.

“The reason we do this is to
promote awareness of the richness
of the African-American culture
and heritage,” Nell Lewis, cultural
center director, said.” And to
celebrate the contributions of
African-Americans to our soci-
ety.”

Events begin on Monday with an
opening reception at the Cultural
Center and end Feb. 28 with a
candlelight vigil at the steps of
Joyner Library.

Each year, major events are
planned to highlight the unique’
experiences and traditions of di-
verse populations on campus,
officials said. The cultural center
and ECU's Diversity Cross-
Cultural Communications
Committee sponsor and observe
university groups, such as the deaf
population by having Deaf

 

of children for sexual purposes in
exchange for cash or in kind or
favors between a customer or
agent who benefit or profit from
the trade in children.

“The use of a child for sexual
purposes or child prostitution is
real and attaining alarming pro-
portions in Kenya, but many
people shun away from this topic
and wish it away.” Adelaide
Ngaru. a senior children’s officer
in the ministry of home affairs
told PANA.

Ngaru conceded that the cases of
child exploitation in Kenya were
rampant. explaining that they
Were rampant, explaining that
they were not limited to only
sexual intercourse but could also
be viewed against backdrops of
child labor, child marriages and
female genital mutilation. or
PMG.

Ngaru also singles out the child
sexual exploitation menace at the
Kenvan coast’ where well-run
cartels operate.

She says the cartel, which
Operates with expert precision,
has a string of clients both local
and foreign who top their holiday
with what is referred to as sex
tourism.

The well-organized group con-
sisting of pimps of both sexes also
participate in child pornography
and vigorously market it abroad.
A good number of tourists, mostly
from central Europe, have time
and again fallen for the ploy and
always book the next flight to

Kenya.

Negaru says the root causes of
this evil in Kenya are illiteracy.
abject’ poverty. HIW’AIDs and
retrogressive cultural practices
such as FMG and gender discrimi-
nation.

Heritage Week.

In support of all cultures. the
center and the committee con-
ducted a Multicultural Holiday
Open House in December. The
committee also plans to focus on

women’s health issues as part of

Women’s History Month.

African-American firsts was
chosen as the theme for Black
History Month. An appearance by
Herman Boone. whose experi-
ences as a Virginia football coach
provided inspiration for the film
“Remember The Titians.” is the
signaiure event to highlight and
recognize black achievement in
the United States.

Boone is known for uniting the
T.C. Williams High School foot-
ball team. The team was devel-
oped when three schools were
integrated. Boone was hired as
head coach for the Titans and was
chosen above a coach from a
successful all-white school. He
previously coached at the all-
black E.J. Hayes High School in
Williamston.

Racial tension provided obsta-
cles, but Boone led the team to a
13-0 record and the state champi-
onship title in 1971. Academy
Award-winner Denzel Washington
portrayed Boone in the film.
Though retired, Boone travels
nationwide for speeches and pres-
entations.

“Boone is our signature event
because of what he did to bring
together the Titans football team
and community,” Lewis said. “He
would be one to understand what
it is like to break barriers in order
to reach a common goal.

“| wanted someone who can
relate to being a first (in black
history),” she said. “He is the
kind of motivated person that can
influence young people to keep a
steady spirit...no matter what the
odds.”

Boone will be on campus
Saturday. He is the special guest
for a dinner in the Mendenhall
Student Center and will speak at

8:15p.m. in the Hendrix Theater.

Tickets for the dinner cost $20:
admittance to the speech is $5,

 

Judge Janice Cole Campaigns For Eva Clayton’s Old Seat

Shown above from left to right is long-time resident. D.D. Garrett. a Juvenile Court Juge. Judge Janice Cole and the Paster of AMT
Zion Church. Judge Janice Cole is the Federal Judge of the Eastern District.

Not Qur Children

Clergy, congregation fight for
rights over children, religion
By: Eric Ture Muhammad

The return of a 14-count indict-
ment on Jan. 18, against Rev.
Arthur Allen, Jr. and 10 members
of his northwest Atlanta House of.
Praver Church has laid the
groundwork for a landmark court
case that will debate the use of
corpora! punishment on children,
parental rights, abuse of power
and religious authority.

Fulton County District
Attorney Paul Howard. who an-
nounced the indictments. called
the congregation's alleged punish-
ment of their children severe and
extreme. "This is not normal
whipping.” he said. "These are
severe and extreme beatings. We
think that is a clear sign of
demarcation." Mr. Howard said.
The indictment charges the mem-
bers of the church with aggra-
vated assault and cruelty to
children. If convicted, they can
serve a maximum of 20 years in
prison. Rev. Allen says his
congregation is innocent of the
DA's charges and the facts of the
case have been grossly exagger-
ated. Like any loving parent.
parishioners want only the best
for their children, said Rev. Allen.

"

The saga began in February
2001, when a White teacher
called the state Division of Family
and Children Services (DFACS),
reporting she found "thin red
marks" on two children in her
classroom. It is unclear whether
the teacher spoke with other
school officials before making the
call to DFACS; however, the
incident escalated into possibly
the largest one-time seizure of
children in state history. A total
of 49 children --- all Black ----
were removed from schools,
homes and church grounds. They
were placed in Atlanta-area deten-
tion centers pending hearings.
Rev. Allen and some church
members were arrested the fol-
lowing month and charged with
conspiring to commit cruelty to
children. Those charges were
dropped as children were sent
back home to their parents.
According to the accountants
of the children, shared exclusively
with The Final Call, they were
harrassed, brutalized, and threat-
ened by DCFAS workers, Atlanta
Police, and male detention center
supervisors. “They pulled me off
the couch and threw me to the
floor," recalled 14-year old Diana
Frazier. She along with her
brother Quentin, were removed

from their home by DCFAS and
Atlanta police in a fashion com-
pared to a nighttime military raid.
"They twisted my arms around my
back. put handcuffs on me and
placed their knees in my tace and
my baek," she said. recalling how
her face was banged into the
ground as she pleaded for help
from her parents. Her brother.
handled in a = similar fashion.
received a busted lip and bruised
to his torehead.

Both alleged constant use of
abusive language by officers han-
dling them. while in the squad car
and in the detention center. They
said they asked the officers to
refrain from the foul language,
saving their parents did not use
such language around them. The
officers became more abusive.
directing their insults at the par-
ents, said Diana and Quentin.

In recent months, DFACS has
come under fire for their handling
of the children. resulting — in
disciplinary action against case-
workers. Calls placed to DFACS
spokesman Andy Boisseau by The
Final Call were not returned.
Some of the children. who re-
ceived similar treatment as offi-
cers removed them from homes
and schools, were charged with
assaults against police. resisting

arrest and one was charged with
trespassing after he was pulled
from his own home.

The children spoke of horrible
conditions in the Metro-Atlanta
detention center for youth.
Roaches and rodents were
throughout the facility, they said.
Bugs were frequently found in
food and as they showered. the
children charged. male supervi-
sors would come in and watch.

"They would not let us talk to
our parents, so my brother would
sneak out to call them and tell
them how we wanted to come
home. We know we come from
good homes," Diana Frazier.

"In some cases, DFACS is
needed, " said Sharon Duncan,
who along with her husband
David, is named in the indictment.
"Some children are in abusive
situations, but not our children.
Our children are in two-parent
homes. Homes that are loving,
clean and where the children are
‘kept fed," she said. "These are
happy, well mannered, well ad-
justed children who did not need
rescuing by DFACS. They need
to be rescued from DFACS," she
said. The couple will appear in
juvenile court later this month,
fighting to maintain custody of
their children, some of whom

remain in state custody.

In an appearance betore the
juvenile court. parents were told
they could have their children
back. if they Would agree to only
hand-spank the children. The
pastor was also asked to cease
performing marriages of couples
as young as id-years old.
pastor and parents retused all the
proposals. They look forward to
their dav in court.

"When the DFACS workers and
Atlanta police came out to arrest
our children. why did thes slam
them to the floor. twist their arms
around their backs and brutalize
them?" asked Rev. Allen. “Why
didn't they just hand-spank them,
like the judges said and tell them
to get into the van. If that is the
method he wants us to use. why
did not be instruct them to use it?”
he said.

The pastor. and many in the
commuity, see the move on the
pastor and congregation as racist
and politically motivated. A
recent poll conducted by an
Atlanta-based CBS-television af-
filiate found 74 percent of those
polled favored the pastor's actions

Th.
Phe

ELIZABETH CITY STATE
UNIVERSITY ALUMNI

Elaine Hopkins, Class of °68 of
Elizabeth City University. is busy
with the recruitment efforts to
reunite the 60's class. As a
member of the 60°s Decade
Planning Committee, Elaine. spe-
cifically. is helping to co-chair the
plans of bringing together the
class of °68 by Homecoming
2002.

While enjoving early retirement.
Elaine frequently travels to the
campus of her alma mater ‘for
numerous alumni affairs.

In addtion to serving as co-chair
for the 60’s Decade Reunion, she
was recently appointed to the
Board of Directors of the General
Alumni Association. She is a

longtime member of the General
Alumni Awards Banquet and the
Homecoming

Committee.

  

“POWER OF URBAN RADIO SYNPOSIUM”

Photo by Jim Rotise

and believed the parents have
been misrepresented.

Corporal punishment. the beating
of childredn. ts not MHegal 7m

   

Georgia aS a disciplinary toot.
Since integration. said Rey. Allen,
it has been discouraged in the
school system hecause Whites did
not want Bit achers beating
their children. He alse satd
church beatings of children were
not only extremely rare. but were
used as a last resort. Armed with
biblical references. ine congreza-
tion defends the right to discipline
its children. referring to corporal
punishment as an act or love.

"It our children were so abused
in the homes. why were they seen
throughout national — television
while being grabbed and snatened
by, DFACS workers and police
pleading to stay home? If thes
were abused they'd be happy to
leave.” said indicted parent David
Wilson. The case has received
national and international aften-
tion, as well as support. from
clergies around the country.

"Faith is not our strength.” he
said. "Our strength is found in the
power of God."

Locally. she is serving as record-
ing secretary of the Eva J. Lewis
Alumni Chapter of ECSU. Some
of her community involvement
include being a member of the
Millinnium Committee — (sub-
committee of the City Council)
and a member of her sorority.

Most importantly is the lite
Elaine shares with neighboring
friends and especially family and
her church family at Cornerstone
Missionary Baptist Church.

Elaine feels that being a former
educator tends to qualify one to be
a lifetime teacher: Therefore. she
expects to retrun to the classroom
again this year as a tutor for the
end of grade testing.

Meanwhile, she continues a
vived search for ECSU alums who
will commit to the tremondous
task on the campus of her alma
mater.

Shown above is M'’Bula Rouse, Vice-President of WOOW Radio
Station/Minority Voice Newspaper, She is posing for the M’ Voice
camera along with “Inspirations Across America” host Walt “Baby”

Love.

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