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{
    "id": 1237124,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1237124/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 319,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Thika Town, UDA",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "(ii) Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children; and, (iii) International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. Hon. Deputy Speaker, the three conventions were referred to the Departmental Committee on Social Protection for consideration in accordance with the Treaty Making on Ratification Act 2012 and Standing Order 170A. Thereafter, we gazetted the three treaties in the media on 5th March 2023 inviting the public to come and submit their memoranda on the three conventions. The deadline for the submission was on 30th March 2023, which we did not receive anything related to the three conventions. On Friday,14th April 2023, we met with the Principal Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, the Registrar of Treaties, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and other officers of the Attorney- General’s Office. We discussed these treaties at length. In respect of the Hague Convention of the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the Committee observed that the convention sought to protect children from the harmful effects of international abduction by encouraging prompt return of the abducted children to their country of habitual residence and to organize and secure effective right of access to a child. Further, in respect to the Hague Convention on Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children, the Committee observed that the convention sought to empower competent authorities to protect children and to cooperate in a wide range of cross-border situations offering states practical means to fulfil international obligation arising from the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Children. Finally, in respect to the Hague Convention on International Recovery of Child Support and other Forms of Family Maintenance, the Committee observed that the convention sought to ensure effective international recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance. In light of the foregoing and pursuant to Section 8 of the Treaty Making and Ratification Act 2012 as read together with Standing Order 170A, the Committee recommends that the House approves the ratification of the of the following Hague Conventions: (i) Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; (ii) Jurisdiction, Applicable Law, Recognition, Enforcement and Cooperation in Respect of Parental Responsibility and Measures for the Protection of Children; and, (iii) International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. Hon. Deputy Speaker, allow me to note that the approval of the three conventions is a landmark, and today is a historical day for every child, woman and man of this country. Why do I say so? Once this House approves the ratification of the three conventions, gone will be the days when men or women absconded their duties. Men will not abscond their duties by impregnating Kenyan women and running to other countries to avoid taking care of their children. I would also like to point out that after Thika Superhighway was constructed, many Chinese children were left behind by the contractors from China. Once they were done with construction, we were left with too many Chinese children. As you know, Kenyan women did not know how to locate the fathers of the children after they left the country. With this treaty ratified and passed here, gone will be the days when fathers got children and left the country for diaspora taking zero parental responsibility. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}