Child advocacy groups petition Parliament
Nov 15, 2010
CHILD advocacy groups have asked Parliament to make a law that allows all registered medical doctors to examine children suspected to be sexually abused.
By John Odyek
CHILD advocacy groups have asked Parliament to make a law that allows all registered medical doctors to examine children suspected to be sexually abused.
Faith Kembabazi from the Children at Risk Action Network said the absence of medical professionals who are allowed to examine sexually abused children has frustrated the prosecution of cases.
“We ask Parliament to make laws allowing more doctors to examine children and for their reports to be accepted in courts of law. We call for the increase in the number of Police surgeons in all districts to ensure adequate representation if justice is to be achieved for the victims of child abuse,†Kembabazi said recently while presenting a petition to Edward Ssekandi, the Speaker of Parliament.
Kembabazi was presenting the petition on behalf of Viva Africa, which has a network of 152 children advocacy organisations.
A report from Raising Voices, a children advocacy organisation, said 60% of girls and 13% of boys aged between 10 and 17 years have been sexually abused.
The report added that about 57% of sexually abused children do not report to anyone.
Ssekandi noted that children were voiceless and appreciated the efforts made by the organisations to speak out for them.
“The situation is alarming. We need to address it so that children can grow happily in their environment,†he remarked.
amuel Mayanja Ssekajja, the chairman of the Children at Risk Network, pointed out that in Kampala, there are only two probation officers, while other districts have one or no probation officer.
He also that probation and welfare officers are poorly funded.
CHILD advocacy groups have asked Parliament to make a law that allows all registered medical doctors to examine children suspected to be sexually abused.
Faith Kembabazi from the Children at Risk Action Network said the absence of medical professionals who are allowed to examine sexually abused children has frustrated the prosecution of cases.
“We ask Parliament to make laws allowing more doctors to examine children and for their reports to be accepted in courts of law. We call for the increase in the number of Police surgeons in all districts to ensure adequate representation if justice is to be achieved for the victims of child abuse,†Kembabazi said recently while presenting a petition to Edward Ssekandi, the Speaker of Parliament.
Kembabazi was presenting the petition on behalf of Viva Africa, which has a network of 152 children advocacy organisations.
A report from Raising Voices, a children advocacy organisation, said 60% of girls and 13% of boys aged between 10 and 17 years have been sexually abused.
The report added that about 57% of sexually abused children do not report to anyone.
Ssekandi noted that children were voiceless and appreciated the efforts made by the organisations to speak out for them.
“The situation is alarming. We need to address it so that children can grow happily in their environment,†he remarked.
amuel Mayanja Ssekajja, the chairman of the Children at Risk Network, pointed out that in Kampala, there are only two probation officers, while other districts have one or no probation officer.
He also that probation and welfare officers are poorly funded.