Browsing by Author "Kabahuma, Sarah"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    The influence of child protection initiatives on the promotion of children’s rights in Uganda :a case study of Kyenjojo town council
    (Kampala International University, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2014-06) Kabahuma, Sarah
    The purpose of the study was to influence of child protection initiatives on the promotion of children’s rights in Uganda: The study was guided by the following objectives, (i) to assess governments’ contribution in Child Protection initiatives in Kyenjojo district. (ii). to assess the contribution of child Protection initiatives in Kyenjojo district. (iii). to examine the challenges encountered by government in Child Protection in Kyenjojo district. (iv). to generate viable and sustainable solutions to challenges encountered by government in Child Protection in Kyenjojo district. Basing on the findings of the study, the researcher concludes that serious child protection challenges exist throughout Uganda, and are worse in Kyenjojo district. Children are faced with physical, sexual and psychological violence in all social environments including schools, health and justice facilities, at home and in the community. A participatory research project carried out by War Child in July 2007 among 400 children in Kyenjojo district showed how children, both in and out of school, are being exposed to multiple forms of sexual, physical and emotional abuse and are also coming into conflict with the law. Acute poverty in the region means that many children are resorting to negative survival strategies such as petty crime and survival sex. Conclusively the study has been significant positive development towards capacity of the government officials and child protection committee members in Kyenjojo district in particular. The officials and most of the committee members are trained; they know their roles and understand technical aspects of supporting survivors. They have capacity to continue with basic work of child protection provided Sub County and district is able to provide leadership. However it must be noted that few of the cultural practices of Kyenjojo district are not in conformity with modern practices or with the law of the land such as early child marriage, issues of handling defilement and rape, schooling of children etc. Continuation of such practices could also be attributed to weak government presence at the grassroots level. Hence there is need for continued coaching to child protection committee members to handle such issues and intensive dialogues with the communities for behavioral change. There is also need for strengthening outreach of the local government through appropriate staffing, budgeting and allocation of resources for long term sustainability of child protection initiatives.