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"content": "Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, for a long time, there has been a conspiracy of silence. That is why I think a Motion like this one opens the doors for a more robust discussion. We cannot underestimate what the law can do to protect citizens and our children. Maybe, the time has come for us to ask ourselves whether, for example, the Children’s Act adequately protects our children from some of these socio-economic effects of early pregnancies. Maybe we need to sponsor or introduce some amendments to the Children Act to address the very specific issues that are being raised in this Motion. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, we have our Constitution – and I know that the Mover of the Motion referred to Article 45 on the rights of children – but I think that the legislative framework around the Children Act and the Education Act, especially the Basic Education Act of 2012, can help us realize the rights that are secured under Article 45 of the Constitution. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I will not overemphasize the effects of early pregnancy and parenthood. The effects are far-reaching and social, economic, biological in nature. Therefore, perhaps, other than just looking at the education of these children, we should actually look at this issue holistically and include the other aspects which are affected by early pregnancy and parenthood. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion urges very specific things. One is the need to ensure that there are back-to-school programmes. There is need for the Government to partner with other agents of development, especially social and community development, to ensure that we have nationwide back-to-school programmes that are well funded, crafted and anchored within the education policy and other sectoral policies that we have as a country. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, this Motion also speaks to the need for funding of child welfare programmes, so that our children who are affected by this challenge or problem are assisted. The Motion also speaks to the need to exercise this responsibility that has come a bit too early. We can exercise this responsibility within the constraints that are posed by their age and other factors as I have said before, including poverty and deprivation which sometimes is a connecting factor to early pregnancy and early parenthood. This Motion also speaks to the need for capacity building programmes for teenage parents. This is a very specific intervention. Therefore, I want to say that as a leader, a father of girls and a relative to parents who have girls, I think this Motion is timely and requires – if adopted – further action. I want to encourage my sister, Sen. Ongoro, to actually think through this and come up with further legislative, administrative and other measures that can be put in place to make sure the noble objectives of this Motion are realized. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, finally, I want to say that we have passed many Motions in this House, and I think time has come for this House to be updated. I will be happy to know how many of our Motions have required the national Government or other players to do certain things to support the subject matter of those Motions. How many of those Motions have been implemented? The law is very clear that the Senate as a House of Parliament cannot be speaking in vain. Anything that is resolved in this House by way of The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate."
}