- 73 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys experience sexual violence while 67 percent of girls and 43 percent of boys experience physical violence after arriving in the settlement.
Image: courtesy
Refugee settlements in Uganda are witnessing alarming rates of violence against children with 73 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys experiencing sexual violence after arriving in the settlement.
This is according to Uganda’s Report on Humanitarian Violence Against children and Youth released by the Baobab Research Program Consortium- (Baobab RPC) which reveals that persons known to children are the main perpetrators.
Chi-Chi Undie, Senior Associate and Technical Director at the Population Council notes that most of them are members of the opposite sex, relatives, teachers and people older than them. Among them also includes peers and age mates.
According to the report, girls are more vulnerable to sexual violence while boys experience high prevalence of physical violence further highlighting that the first experience of violence often occurs after arriving in the settlement.
This is explained by the fact that 73 percent of girls and 53 percent of boys experience sexual violence while 67 percent of girls and 43 percent of boys experience physical violence after arriving in the settlement.
Charles Bafaki, Commissioner for Refugees has expressed concern that, “For refugees, this violence only aggravates an already dire situation within the settlements, where children have nothing to fall back on. Worse still, survivors of violence are at risk of becoming future perpetrators if the cycle isn't broken.”
“This is a stark reminder to all stakeholders: we must design and implement effective programs that are tailored to address the unique needs of youth and children in humanitarian settings. We must engage all child protection partners—including the Police, the Courts, and the Directorate of Public Prosecution—to come together and build robust mechanisms to protect these children”, he remarks.
Image: courtesy
The Lead Research Uptake, Baobab RPC, Gloria Seruwagi, notes that policy gaps are not a challenge however, a policy is as good as its implementation and so failure to implement a policy by concerned stakeholders is much like not having a policy at all.
“The policies and programs are there, I think it’s more of resource implications, consistence and sustainability. Having that coordinated response that is well funded, well-resourced and everyone knowing that children are at risk here, let’s all play a part,” she remarks.
“Look at our police system, the child family protection unit that sometimes does not have fuel to go take on a case,” she adds.
George Odwe, Theme Lead, Baobab RPC says that Children have high knowledge of where to report but are unlikely to disclose and to obtain help or care.
The report recommends that parenting gaps should be fixed, psycho social support for mental violence instituted, eradicating unpleasant cultural practices among others.
The CEO Baobab RPC, Stella Muthuri has hailed the report noting that it is as a result of a survey conducted in over twenty countries in the world and what makes this special is that it is the first humanitarian report ever made in Uganda.
She adds, “This is the first ever and will help us in Ethiopia. It will only take collective action to address these issues. Today, we are also launching the data set alongside the full report which will allow those interested, to access this data.
As Boabab we are proud that this data set has been led by researchers on this continent that are equipped, ready and willing to contribute to humanitarian research,” she remarks.