Church launches child protection policy

Catholic Religious Institutes working in Uganda have developed a policy that will guide the operations of their affiliate child-care institutions.

The policy was launched by the state minister for youth and children, Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, during the General Assembly of the Major Superiors of the respective religious congregations at the headquarters of the Association of the Religious in Uganda (ARU), in Nsambya, on Wednesday.

Speaking during the launching of the policy, state minister Nakiwala Kiyingi commended the Catholic Religious Congregations for supplementing government's work of improving the living conditions of Uganda's vulnerable children. She further commended the Church for coming up with a policy to streamline its child-care activities.

"The task of protecting children is becoming even more acute considering the fact that we have over twenty-million children below five years and over a million refugee-children. In such a situation, we bank on the Church to assist us fulfill our obligations towards children.

Some of the Catholic Religious in Uganda that attended the function.

The child-protection policy is also a big achievement considering the fact than most of the children's homes are operating unprofessionally.

"Please continue to help us in our obligation of protecting the children and enabling them to lead a dignified life. You should also do more to harmonise the institution of the family, which is the basic unit of society," said Nakiwala Kiyingi.

Dr Janestic Twikirize, the Makerere University Don who developed the policy spoke highly of its relevancy and effectiveness.

"The policy provides stringent measures to effect minimum standards for the care and protection of children. It also spells out the roles and responsibilities of the religious social workers who deal in child-care protection. It also provides a statement of commitment to promoting the welfare and dignity of vulnerable children."

The Chairman of the Association of the Religious in Uganda, Fr Joseph Kyeyune said that the policy will be a guiding tool for the 46 children's homes, which are run by the different Catholic Religious Institutes across the country.