Over 800,000 child abuse cases registered

Jun 23, 2017

The common cases, according to Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the state minister for youth and children affairs in the ministry of labour, gender and social development, are child neglect, child marriage and defilement.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has said 823,277 cases of child abuse to children have been registered by National Child Helpline Call Centre since January 2014.

The common cases, according to Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the state minister for youth and children affairs in the ministry of labour, gender and social development, are child neglect, child marriage and defilement.

 
In 2013, the Uganda Communication Commission (UCC) introduced the toll free line, 116 accessible by all networks where people call and report cases of child abuse to call Centre and forge away forward on how to mitigate them and follow up of the cases.

Speaking at the National Child Helpline Call Centre headquarters in Kireka on Thursday, Nakiwala said of the reported cases 52% have been followed up and concluded through the ministry's partnership with Police and civil society organisations and judiciary.

"57% of the clients are mostly females mostly affected by defilement and child marriage whereas the 43 % are males affected by child neglect," she said adding that child helpline is steadily rolling out to districts to act as action Centres to bring child protection services closer to communities.

Angella Rubarema, the coordinator for national child helpline Centre said over 700 calls about violence against children are received daily from various parts of the country and over 20 cases of neglect and harsh punishments are registered.

"Women must be submissive to their men if we are to completely end domestic violence whose effects are normally experienced by children. Laws should also be implemented so that the perpetuators are brought to book," she said.

 
During the same ceremony, the United Nations Children Emergency fund (UNICEF) donated 16 motorcycles in districts such as Wakiso, Kabale, Kisoro, Kitgum among others to ease follow up of child abuse cases by the officers in districts.

Augustine Wassago, the child protection specialist in UNICEF said UNICEF will always offer periodical maintenance of the donated motorcycles as well as fuelling them to ease the child protection work.

Mondo Kyateka, the commissioner for youth and children in the ministry of gender said there's need by key stakeholders such as parents and local leaders to combine efforts and fight child abuse. He said it has adverse effects to children such as going to street, theft among others. 

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