DECADES COME & PASS, WE STILL SING THE SAME SONG "VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN"

BY MASEREKA GILBERT
Decades come and pass, we still sing the same song "Violence". Violence Against Children (VAC) as a concept is defined as violence inflicted against children to cause pain either emotionally or physically. The intentional use of force or power threatened or actual against children that is likely to result into injury, death, psychological harm, mal development or deprivation.

A child we refer to is any person under the age of 18 years.

Forms of Violence

Children in communities are violated in different ways. These violators practice these vices knowingly or unknowingly.

·         Physical violence; Physical force is used and intended to cause some of the degree of pain and discomfort. Examples include hitting, pinching, burning, hair pulling, arm twisting, strangling, stabbing, punching, slapping, beating, kicking, choking, biting, force feeding and any other form of rough treating the child.

·         Sexual Violence occurs when a child is forced to unwillingly take part in sexual activities which includes but not limited to touching in sexual manner with or without consent, forced or willing sexual intercourse, beating sexual parts of the bodies, introducing children to pornography, making sexual jokes to lure that child into the act, denial of sexual education, forced prostitution and denial of a good environment for them to meet their sanitary needs.

·         Psychological / Emotional violence; This is a form of violence characterized by a person subjecting or exposing a child to behavior that may result in psychological trauma including anxiety, chronic depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. This happens when someone says something to make a child feel stupid or worthless, unloved, unwanted like blaming, degrading, intimidation, isolation, belittling which really damages the child emotionally or psychologically. These may also include Exposing children to traumatizing situations like burning someone while they watch, verbal aggression that could result in low self esteem, nick naming, blaming, not allowing children to have contact with family and friends, destroying children’s possessions, making fun of the child, causing fear in the child to gain control, threatening to abandon the child.

A child under a hash punishment. Such discourage children from going to school

This is common i school though regularities have been put in place to reduce such

·         Spiritual Violence; Its a tricky situation because in our African culture, parents assume control of the children and determine the faith of the child. However it was suggested that spiritual violence is not limited to religion but also cults, taking children for sacrifices, taking children to witch doctors.

·         Child neglect; This is a form of abuse where by someone chooses to abandon their responsibilities to provide basic necessities and guidance to the child. This may be by failing to meet the basic needs of the child or total abandonment.

·         Economic violence where children are exploited for financial gains like child labor, hawking on behalf of others and at the end, they are even denied their wages.

Causes of violence against children

It was agreed in the meetings that the possible causes of violence against children include but not limited to the following

·         Persistence of cultural beliefs and practices such as child marriage, child labor, denial of education to girl children among others

·         Societal acceptance of violence against children as a way of enforcing discipline, immoral behaviors and practices such as domestic violence,

·         Increasing levels of drug addiction which puts children as the most vulnerable group

·         Poverty

·         Corruption and beliefs in bribery

·         Over dependency on a single bread winner

It was agreed in the meetings that all the above forms of violence will lead to poor academic performance, death, body deformity, stigma, violent communities, early marriages, pain, depression, low self esteem and low development of the communities.

Mr. Jimmy Odyek, RWECO coordinator advised that to get a violent free community, we should avoid violating our children

Recommendations;

·         Empower school children to get the confidence to speak about violence against them and be able to report when something bad happens to them. This can be done through child rights clubs

·         Ensure universal access to violence free learning environment where the rights of all children are respected

·         Prohibit violence in schools

·         Establish and implement codes of conduct reflecting child rights principles

·         Ensure that school heads and teachers use non-violent teaching and learning strategies and disciplinary measures

·         Give special attention to vulnerable groups

·         Promote school – community partnerships and present schools as a resource to the community

·         Provide safe school environment  

Katwe Kabatooro Town Council stakeholders pause for a photo with Masereka Gilbert, the Project Officer-VAC after a stakeholders meeting at the Council Hall

Action Plan

St Johns Bukangara and Mundongo Primary Schools
Action	Venue & Time frame	Responsible persons
Revive or create children’s committee at the sub county level	Immediate	The CDOs
Cultural and religious institutions take on the VAC massages in their programs	-Every Embale Ya Nyabagholhe -Every church summon	-KALI will work hand in hand with Nyabagholhe Foundation -Religious leaders (Imam, Christian leaders)
Community human rights activists to make home to home visits to sensitise on VAC	Immediate	-Leaders from the women and youth groups -CDO