Uganda fairly child-friendly â€" report

Dec 02, 2009

UGANDA has been ranked as a fairly child-friendly country, coming in at the 21st position out of 52 African countries. However, it falls far behind her neighbours, the African Report on Child Well-being 2008 showed.

By Joyce Namutebi
and Darious Magara

UGANDA has been ranked as a fairly child-friendly country, coming in at the 21st position out of 52 African countries.

However, it falls far behind her neighbours, Kenya and Rwanda, the African Report on Child Well-being 2008 showed.

Youth and children affairs state minister Jessica Alupo launched the report at the Imperial Royale Hotel in Kampala yesterday.

The African Child Policy Forum assessed the 52 African. The forum is a Pan- African policy and advocacy centre on child rights based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Mauritius took the first position as the most child friendly government, followed by nine countries in the same category. These are Namibia, Tunisia, Libya, Morocco, Kenya, South Africa, Malawi, Algeria and Cape Verde.

Rwanda was in the 11th position, followed by Burkina Faso. Guinea Bissau was considered the worst country for children.

According to the report, the child-friendliness index assesses the extent to which African governments respect and protect children and ensure their well-being.

The report explained that Mauritius emerged the best because it put in place appropriate legal provisions to protect children against abuse and exploitation and allocated a relatively bigger share of its budget to meet the basic needs of children.

Alupo pledged that protection of children would continue to be a priority of the Government.

She said Uganda faced challenges of child trafficking and expensive medical facilities for children.

The report cited infant mortality, education, orphans, violence, children with disabilities and legal protection as the major issues African governments should address.

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