DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all children’s rights

The Day of the African Child (DAC) is commemorated every year on 16 June by Member States of the African Union (AU), and its Partners (in accordance with Resolution CM/Res.1290 (XL)). This occasion is firstly a commemoration to recall the 1976 uprisings in Soweto, when a protest by school children in South Africa against apartheid-inspired education resulted in the public killing of these unarmed young protesters by police officials. The DAC further presents an opportunity to take stalk of the efforts of all actors committed to the rights of children on the continent. It provides an occasion for Governments, International Institutions and Communities to renew their on-going commitments towards improving the plight of marginalized and particularly vulnerable children by organizing activities aimed at including these specific children (ACERWC, 2015).

The 2016 Day of the African Child Theme under the theme, “Conflict and Crisis in Africa: Protecting all children’s rights”.  In the Rwenzori region, 2016 DAC was unique in that it gave an opportunity to reflect on causes and nature of the conflicts that have happened and thereafter design appropriate strategies for lasting peace in the region. The importance of Article 22 and other relevant provisions of the African Children‘s Charter and other relevant African human rights instruments in safeguarding girls and boys in Africa from conflicts and crises and their attendant consequences.

While we have the heart of being in school, at most we are challenged and experience sexual harassment, denial of basic needs at home by parents, rape, and defilement, cultural institutional conflicts, domestic violence has been the order of the day and land wrangle which has resulted into high death rates which directly affects us, narrated by one child during the DAC

  

Below are pupils from Mundogo primary school-Kasese district presenting violence free massage

The RDC Ntroko who was the chief guest and LCV chair persons from kasese, kabarole, bundibugy and Ntoroko respectively standing during the official opening of the DAC

What should be done?

 There should be identification of the immediate causes separated from indigenous problems at home, work, and through daily interactions and shared relationships among members of society. 

There should be peace and reconciliation committees at district level across the region where by all stakeholders are represented to allow free sharing for the betterment of the region as well as our children.

Formation of peace clubs in all primary schools so that the concept can be passed on through children to their parents.

Government need to fully spell out how cultural institutions work so that the issue of boundaries be solved since it has been one of the causes of conflicts.

If not now, when? If not you, then who? One child asked during their presentation on the DAC

For the better of the African child conflict and crises must stop now.

By kule obed 

Supporting Human Rights Activists in fighting for a violence free community

As Activists Go, So goes the human rights movement. The advance of human rights worldwide is dependent on the ability of activists to operate freely from fear and intimidation. It is not lost on repressive governments, which try to protect their power by cracking down on activists, making their work difficult-and more dangerous.

KALI supports activists in the targeted sub counties around the district and outside within the region not by imposing KALI ideals on them, but by listening, discerning their needs and working alongside them. KALI amplifies their voices and seek to protect them by spotlighting their struggle.

 The 15-year-old girl, looking even younger than her years, sleeping in the garden shelter  in western part of Kasese district , "I was just coming back from the garden late evening where we had gone with only my Dad up mountains," Loice told her step mother who later narrated to  Anatos Nyama, human rights activist for KALI. "My Dad came up to me and told me that if I refuse to sleep with him, he will kill me and dump me in the forest since it was already late in the evening. He pulled me inside our garden shelter house beat me and ripped my clothes. He then raped me and warned me not to tell anyone of what has happened mostly my step mother."

Loice with fear reported to her step mother  who later asked her in front of her dad who refuted it and said she is alleging, Loice’s step mother reported the matter to  Anatos Nyama  KALI human rights activist in this sub county who reported the incident to the nearby police post. Police intervened, took the girl for checkup who was found pregnant and the Dad was mentioned to be responsible.

Loice still faces tough choices. Her Dad is on run with her in the democratic Republic of Congo after escaping from the police sells where he was detained on the first day, her step mother also divorced after the disappearance of her husband. Anatos the KALI human rights activist is on the look to get this man when he comes back from exile. If all of us finally begin to take rape prosecutions seriously, other girls might not have to live through such horror.

Sadly, Loice, whose name has been changed in this article to protect her identity, is one of thousands of women and girls who are being raped by their biological relatives in Kasese district where their just few cases of such nature being reported since the majority are intimidated by the rapist not to tell anyone. KALI with support from local stakeholders in communities estimates that 20,000 women and girls have been victims of sexual violence and are just being affected silently. 

 Above are KALI and human right activists following up a case of a neglected child at  a police post

For the past three years, KALI and her human rights activist arm of investigation in Kasese have helped raise awareness of sexual violence in all the targeted sub counties by conducting community gatherings and talk about sexual violations, working with women's rights activists to organize advocacy efforts, lobbying judicial officials on cases, and urging journalists to cover the issue. We encourage government and organizations to improve support for victims and start addressing sexual violence on the political level.

After one year of working on related issues, I am encouraged by the new developments but also cautious. Prosecutions should continue and government should be more concerned on its laws and policies. It needs continued advocacy to keep the Ugandan government and focused donors on ending sexual violence. "For justice to prevail," "Suspects must continue to be investigated and prosecuted for sexual crimes."

Virtually all of KALI’s work draws on its Alliances-friendship-with front line activists. 

By Kule Obed

PRE-MEETING WITH THE EDUCATION SECRETARY OF SOUTH RWENZORI DIOCESE

KALI is part of the implementing team of a pilot project on “community mechanisms to prevent violence against children and adolescents” in the Rwenzori region. The project is targeting 16 schools (15 primary schools and one secondary school) and their communities in eight sub counties in Kasese district. As part of the implementation process, KALI will work with Education Department of South Rwenzori Diocese.

Mr. Masereka Gilbert (Project focal person) and Mr. Kule Obed had a meeting with the Secretary for Education, South Rwenzori Diocese at the Cathedral office. We introduced KALI as an NGO based on the core value of improving the livelihood of the people. It was started in 1997

Its offices are located in Mpondwe Lhubiriha Town Council. KALI is built on transparency and accountability, team work, gender pro active, sacrifice as a pre-requisite to development, human dignity as a right, effective communication and non discrimination of human beings.

KALI Vision

KALI has a vision of a Uganda where everyone has equal opportunity to mobilize harness and utilize the available resources equitably without any discrimination.

KALI works to advocate for and promote basic human rights and equity in the mobilization, distribution and utilization of resources for everyone in Uganda.

Projects

KALI is implementing a project (Violence Against Children) as a member of RWECO supported by EACF, Human Rights and good governance supported by IDF,  Sustainable Sanitation and Hygiene for All supported by SNV / DFID and Clean energy supported by WWF.

The above projects are being implemented in Kasese and Kamwenge districts. Results are visible. So many child violence related cases have been reported and followed up till justice achieved. Likewise, there has been improvement in Sanitation and Hygiene in Bwera, Kisinga, Kyarumba, Kamwenge Sub counties.

KALI requested to work with the Education structures of South Rwenzori Diocese in prevention of Violence Against Children and Adolescents. The Diocesan Secretary for Education, Rev. Erick Bikanja accepted to work with KALI in implementing this project and agreed to mobilize the education structures of SRD

to have an education conference to evaluate the challenges in education

to have an education conference to evaluate the challenges in education and come up with action points to be implemented by them.

Conclusion

KALI has a Community Based Monitoring model upon which communities can be able to engage stakeholders on a number of issues and network for stronger results. We are looking forward to always work with this Institution

By Gilbert Masereka (PO)