32. Strengthening community networks (1) The Ministry shall, in order to mitigate the effects of child marriage and prevent child marriage – (a) establish contact with traditional leaders and religious authorities; (b) assist in the establishment of community networks; and (c) encourage the development of community centers or homes for purposes of – (i) providing psychological and physical support to children who leave marriages; (ii) providing emergency facilities to accommodate and care for victims of child marriage; (iii) supporting the re-integration of victims of child marriages with their parents; (iv) re-integrating victims of child marriages into society; (v) launching child advocacy programmes for the prevention of child marriage; and (vi) providing an accessible, youth friendly and gender neutral place for reporting intended child marriages, betrothals, child marriages and children in need of care and protection. (2) The Ministry shall, in collaboration with other appropriate authorities, encourage and assist local communities to establish community watch committees, under the auspices of traditional leaders or religious authorities, for the prevention of child marriages and protection of children already in marriages. Page 63 of 78

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