Integrating Religious Authority into Formal National Child Protection Systems

In Kenya, faith leaders are often among the first trusted adults approached when a child or family is facing abuse, neglect, exploitation or harmful practices. Yet many faith institutions have lacked standardized safeguarding policies, clear knowledge of statutory reporting duties, structured referral pathways and formal links with government child protection services.

This session presents the Faith for Life model, developed by the State Department for Children Services in partnership with the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya and UNICEF Kenya. The model equips Christian, Muslim and Hindu faith communities with safeguarding standards, faith-aligned key messages, correct practices and practical guidance on identification, reporting and referral.

The session will demonstrate how faith actors can be integrated into existing national and sub-national child protection structures without creating parallel systems or weakening statutory requirements. It will share lessons on government leadership, coordination, capacity building, accountability and the use of trusted faith platforms to prevent violence, challenge harmful norms and support timely referral.