Some Issues/Challenges Arising Responsibilities of the School in Handling Reports of Child Abuse For Justice for Children, the cases of Leah and Charity raise a number of issues that need highlighting as follows; The Protocol provides guidance as to how cases of child sexual abuse can be handled. These are summarized below:  1. On receiving notification, the school head must immediately attend to the requirements of the child, including notifying appropriate trusted caregiver and either a health officer, social services or the Victim Friendly Unit, regardless of where the alleged abuse took place 2. The school head shall also report the matter to the District Education Office 3. The school head shall ensure that the child receives adequate psychosocial support 4. The school authorities should prefer charges of misconduct and suspend member alleged to have committed the crime after carrying out investigations 5. The school should liaise with the police on proceedings 6. The school must follow up proceeding with the police and the courts 7. Where a member has been granted bail, the school shall endeavour to obtain the bail conditions from the court. 8. Where the court has handed down judgment, the school shall request a copy of the judgment from the court.   Have Ministry of Education internal processes and procedures been harmonized in accordance with the standards and guidelines set out in the Protocol? In Charity’s case, the school head did not take up any of the roles assigned the head by the Protocol. Neither the victim nor her family felt supported by the school head in any way. How do we ensure victim centred approaches and what do victim centred approaches in situations such as Leah’s mean? For instance Leah did not want to be transferred from her school or class. She wanted the teacher to be removed from the school, but so far that has not happened. She has had to be moved classes and for now she remains at the same school where the abuse to place. What happens when the alleged abuser is acquitted in the criminal proceedings? In Leah’s case, a number of teachers from her school attended court in support of the alleged abuser, leaving Leah and her mother feeling vulnerable and worried about Leah’s future at the school. Is there no danger of victimization if some of the teachers are taking such an overt stance in support of their friend? 22 18