On June 20, 2025, KELIN joined diverse stakeholders including civil society organizations (CSOs), government representatives and regional experts on the rights and welfare of children to validate the Policy Brief on the Guiding Principles of Children’s Rights and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.[1] The meeting was convened by the Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR) to engage stakeholders in reviewing the draft policy brief to ensure its accuracy, comprehensiveness, relatability and practical applicability.
Substantively, the policy brief calls for the adoption of laws and policies that guarantee adolescents confidential access to contraceptives and SRH services without third-party consent, notably in cases of sexual violence. The brief also promotes the integration of comprehensive sexual education (CSE) into school curricula and its delivery in an age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, and disability-inclusive manner, including for out-of-school youth. The brief also addresses the need for legal reforms to eliminate discriminatory minimum ages of marriage and consent to sex and urges states to recognize the evolving capacities of adolescents in making SRH decisions. Finally, the brief advocates for harmonization of national laws with continental and international human rights frameworks, such as the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the Maputo Protocol, despite potential pushback embedded in restrictive national and regional policies on family values that may undermine SRHR in the region.
Reflecting on the role of governments, leaders, CSOs, and adolescents in advocating for protection of sexual and reproductive health rights, stakeholders evaluated and provided feedback on the policy brief oriented around four key Charter principles, namely: non-discrimination and adolescent SRHR, the best interests of the child, life, survival, and development, and child participation in SRH decision-making. Honourable representatives from African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) highlighted that the development, survival, and participation of the child are principles that need to be taken into consideration. They called on CRR and other stakeholders to enact and advocate for policies that uphold adolescent rights, in order to give force to the Agenda of 2030 and Maputo Protocol that seek to alleviate barriers for adolescents in Africa.
Guided by ACERWC experts, stakeholders refined the policy brief around issues of comprehensive sexual education, access to services for adolescents, and the tension between regional legal norms and domestic policy values. Some suggested recommendations included collaboration with school administrations, strengthened referral pathways for adolescent CSE, and increased adolescent access to legal aid mechanisms. Evaluation of the brief provided a critical forum for stakeholders across government and civil society to align on key priorities for adolescent and children’s SRHR.
KELIN looks forward to dissemination of the policy brief towards increased access to sexual and reproductive health information, services and commodities for children and adolescents to address teenage pregnancies, HIV and STIs infection amongst adolescents and cases of defilement.
To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our website and social media platforms.
Website: www.kelinkenya.org
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya
Twitter(X): @KELINKenya.
For more information please contact, Elsie Milimu,
Program Officer- SRHR, Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS(KELIN),
Email: elsiemilimu@kelinkenya.org
[1] The policy brief is yet to be formally published.
