Do not undermine child protection in the fight against AIDS
Aug 14, 2005
Uganda ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) thereby committing itself to promote children’s rights at all levels.
Uganda ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) thereby committing itself to promote children’s rights at all levels.
The UNCRC specifically calls for the development of appropriate guidelines for the protection of children from information and material injurious to their well-being.
As a country, we should put measures that will not only encourage positive reporting on children but will regulate the involvement of children as subjects in and creators of media.
Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN) are concerned about the involvement of children in the on-going awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention. Specific reference is made to a photograph published in the Sunday Vision last month, depicting a child holding a placard with the message: ‘If you are not sure, use a condom.’
While UCRNN appreciates the involvement of children in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge, the Network notes that this should be done cautiously without undermining child protection.
With due respect to the promoters of condom-use, such presentations may have negative consequences such as, encouraging children to engage in sexual activities.
Though the message on the placard may have been targeted at adults, there are many children who abstain from sexual activities because they are not sure of what to do. Having a seven-year-old child flagging the message, ‘If you are not sure, use a condom’ could result in such children adventuring into sexual activities. Children like many adults, are prone to peer-influence.
In this situation, they may look unto their peer in the public sphere as a role model. UCRNN urges agents of advertisement and promoters of products to ensure that their messages do not contain anything that is likely to result in physical, mental or moral harm to children or to exploit their credulity, lack of experience or sense of loyalty as implied in the article.
Messages about HIV/AIDS targeted and passed on by children should emphasise abstinence and not predispose or increase their vulnerability.
UCRNN condemns the use of children in activities that violate or compromise their right to protection. We urge families, communities, organisations, institutions, government and the private sector to ensure the promotion of children’s rights.
We need to ensure that children do not continue to be generally discounted and that we all work towards breaking the constraints that now bind children to markets, agents and promoters that use but have little use for children.
The writer is the national program co-ordinator of Uganda Child Rights NGO Network
The UNCRC specifically calls for the development of appropriate guidelines for the protection of children from information and material injurious to their well-being.
As a country, we should put measures that will not only encourage positive reporting on children but will regulate the involvement of children as subjects in and creators of media.
Uganda Child Rights NGO Network (UCRNN) are concerned about the involvement of children in the on-going awareness campaigns on HIV/AIDS prevention. Specific reference is made to a photograph published in the Sunday Vision last month, depicting a child holding a placard with the message: ‘If you are not sure, use a condom.’
While UCRNN appreciates the involvement of children in the fight against the HIV/AIDS scourge, the Network notes that this should be done cautiously without undermining child protection.
With due respect to the promoters of condom-use, such presentations may have negative consequences such as, encouraging children to engage in sexual activities.
Though the message on the placard may have been targeted at adults, there are many children who abstain from sexual activities because they are not sure of what to do. Having a seven-year-old child flagging the message, ‘If you are not sure, use a condom’ could result in such children adventuring into sexual activities. Children like many adults, are prone to peer-influence.
In this situation, they may look unto their peer in the public sphere as a role model. UCRNN urges agents of advertisement and promoters of products to ensure that their messages do not contain anything that is likely to result in physical, mental or moral harm to children or to exploit their credulity, lack of experience or sense of loyalty as implied in the article.
Messages about HIV/AIDS targeted and passed on by children should emphasise abstinence and not predispose or increase their vulnerability.
UCRNN condemns the use of children in activities that violate or compromise their right to protection. We urge families, communities, organisations, institutions, government and the private sector to ensure the promotion of children’s rights.
We need to ensure that children do not continue to be generally discounted and that we all work towards breaking the constraints that now bind children to markets, agents and promoters that use but have little use for children.
The writer is the national program co-ordinator of Uganda Child Rights NGO Network