Parents are children’s best bodyguards
A 10-year-old Pauline got fed up with the house help at home and without her mother’s knowledge, walked from Bweyogerere, a city suburb, to Kampala. Her destination was her beloved grandmother’s place at Namulanda on Entebbe Road, but she lost her way. Good Samaritans found her in Wandegeya and
Judith Nabakooba
A 10-year-old Pauline got fed up with the house help at home and without her mother’s knowledge, walked from Bweyogerere, a city suburb, to Kampala. Her destination was her beloved grandmother’s place at Namulanda on Entebbe Road, but she lost her way. Good Samaritans found her in Wandegeya and brought her to the Police station there.
Pauline was lucky, but other children are not. Sometime back, an unidentified person stole a child from his mother’s work place and disappeared. Another two-year-old girl got lost when a stranger deceived the house help that he was a relative.
Such incidents become rampant, especially during the holidays. Parents should, therefore, be their children’s bodyguards. Working mothers must sensitise their house helps on the safety of their children.
Incidences of child kidnap, stealing and disappearance are on the rise. Whereas the Constitution emphasises child protection, child sacrifice is not specifically mentioned. This makes it difficult for convicted child murderers to be given the maximum punishment.
Section 6:3, Cap 59 of the 1999 Children Act states that, “A child has the right to be protected from violence, ill treatment and any behaviour that might show lack of care or interest in the child.â€
Taking decisions in the best interest of the child is also mentioned in the Africa Charter on the Welfare of the Rights of the child and in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Local authorities too are charged with protecting the rights of children in their area.
The Police has reactive and proactive means of curbing child kidnap, stealing and sacrifice. The reactive roles include investigating, arresting and prosecuting the offenders.
Proactive roles can be achieved through sensitisation programmes through the mass media, school visits and other means of monitoring.
Parents must also sensitise their children on kidnap and sacrifice. They should adopt crime prevention tips in order to protect their children.
Most children who have fallen victim to criminals are usually kidnapped by people they know and can identify.
Defilement offences are committed by close associates, especially relatives. Parents must, therefore, take caution and not entrust their children with anyone.
The writer is the Police spokesperson
A 10-year-old Pauline got fed up with the house help at home and without her mother’s knowledge, walked from Bweyogerere, a city suburb, to Kampala. Her destination was her beloved grandmother’s place at Namulanda on Entebbe Road, but she lost her way. Good Samaritans found her in Wandegeya and brought her to the Police station there.
Pauline was lucky, but other children are not. Sometime back, an unidentified person stole a child from his mother’s work place and disappeared. Another two-year-old girl got lost when a stranger deceived the house help that he was a relative.
Such incidents become rampant, especially during the holidays. Parents should, therefore, be their children’s bodyguards. Working mothers must sensitise their house helps on the safety of their children.
Incidences of child kidnap, stealing and disappearance are on the rise. Whereas the Constitution emphasises child protection, child sacrifice is not specifically mentioned. This makes it difficult for convicted child murderers to be given the maximum punishment.
Section 6:3, Cap 59 of the 1999 Children Act states that, “A child has the right to be protected from violence, ill treatment and any behaviour that might show lack of care or interest in the child.â€
Taking decisions in the best interest of the child is also mentioned in the Africa Charter on the Welfare of the Rights of the child and in the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child. Local authorities too are charged with protecting the rights of children in their area.
The Police has reactive and proactive means of curbing child kidnap, stealing and sacrifice. The reactive roles include investigating, arresting and prosecuting the offenders.
Proactive roles can be achieved through sensitisation programmes through the mass media, school visits and other means of monitoring.
Parents must also sensitise their children on kidnap and sacrifice. They should adopt crime prevention tips in order to protect their children.
Most children who have fallen victim to criminals are usually kidnapped by people they know and can identify.
Defilement offences are committed by close associates, especially relatives. Parents must, therefore, take caution and not entrust their children with anyone.
The writer is the Police spokesperson