Law and Development Association

The Paralegal Kids Program empowers children to report any form of abuse directly to
either the Police Victim Support Unit (VSU) or our legal desks whenever they or a fellow
child is abused by anyone. Children do not need to look solely to their parents or guardians
for help. Through trainings, debates and group activities, LADA educates children on human
rights issues and provides them with the skills to serve as peer educators. Upon completion
of the training, the kids return to their schools to start Paralegal Kids Clubs which will
further raise the awareness of human rights among children. Paralegal kids thus serve as
watchdogs in their schools and communities.

A rise in child defilement cases resulting in few jail sentences turned our attention to the
issue of child rights. At LADA, we realized that the child, who is the focal point in the fight
against child abuse and defilement, has been left out. When a child is abused, he/she has to
look to the parents to take legal action against the perpetrator. However, experience has
shown this has not always been the case. Parents would rather have the matter settled out
of court so that they are paid at the expense of the child. Between 2003 and July 2005, 35
child abuse cases ranging from physical to sexual abuse were reported and taken to courts of
law for prosecution. Only four perpetrators were prosecuted and sentenced to prison. The
others went free because parents withdrew the cases once they were paid by the
perpetrators. For children who are unaware of the rights, justice appears unattainable and
they are left without protection.