Justice for children programme launched

Sep 26, 2011

THE Government and the UN children’s fund (Unicef) have launched Justice for Children (J4C) to protect children against human rights abuses.

By Pascal Kwesiga

THE Government and the UN children’s fund (Unicef) have launched Justice for Children (J4C) to protect children against human rights abuses.

The programme also seeks to expand and improve the quality of services to children in the justice system.

It was launched by Chief Justice Benjamin Odoki on Thursday at Hotel Protea in Kampala.

The J4C is being piloted in the districts of Gulu, Amuru, Mbale, Kabarole, Kampala, Entebbe, Agago, Kitgum, Lamwo and Nwoya. It was designed by the Justice Law and Oder Sector (JLOS)

The programme will be implemented by the district Chain-Link Committee and JLOS through its institutions such as the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Police and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. Others are the Judiciary, the Uganda Law Reform Commission, the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, local government ministry, local council courts, the Law Development Centre and the Uganda Law Society.

Odoki said the J4C would integrate all interventions and programmes that seek to increase children’s access to justice.

He added that the programme would reach out to about half of the country’s population who are below the age of 18 years.

“Justice for children is a responsibility for all. We all have a responsibility to create a safe environment for them,” Odoki said.

Odoki observed that J4C would focus on the voices and needs of children in the planning and programming of the justice system.

He also explained that the programme would strengthen the system through which services are delivered to children and confront the service delivery challenges that the Judiciary has faced in the past decade.

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