ANPPCAN calls for action against increased children rights abuse

The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect – (ANPPCAN) is concerned about the rising incidences of child sexual abuse in the country. In just two weeks, 17 cases of defilement have been handled by ANPPCAN Offices in our 10 districts of operation.

Despite the fact that the media has also been awash with cases of child sexual abuse especially defilement and  indecent assault, more new and threatening cases of defilement have of recent been reported here at ANPPCAN.

One absurd case is of a 7 year old girl who was defiled and her uterus damaged, she is currently recovering in a Kampala hospital. Another case is one involving a Pastor in Mukono who was caught in a lodge with a 17 year old girl.

What is very disheartening is that most often the perpetrators of these crimes are people who have responsibility over children like parents, teachers, religious leaders and guardians.

The biggest form of child sexual abuse is defilement; this form of child abuse whose magnitude has remained undesirably high continues to threaten the children’s rights to survival, development and protection.

 Since 2011, a total of 1,363 cases of defilement from 10 districts have been received and followed up by ANPPCAN.

According to the Ugandan Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety Report 2011; 7,690 cases of defilement were reported in 2011. If we are to go by the Police statistics, at least 21 children are defiled every day in Uganda. These reported cases are however a tip of an iceberg as many cases aren’t reported due to a multiplicity of factors.

What is alarming is that of the 7,690 cases reported to police; only 3,836 suspects were arrested and taken to court according to the Annual Crime and Traffic/Road Safety Report 2011. This implies that over 50% of the defilement cases are dropped and do not make it to court.

These high cases of sexual abuse have led to more children contracting HIV/AIDS, and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, increased child pregnancies, early marriages and high school dropout rate.

Therefore, in spite of the seemingly strong legal framework and the prescribed penalties, little is being achieved because of the existing gaps especially in the area of enforcement, lengthy procedures and delayed investigations.

ANPPCAN believes that strong judgments should be given to perpetrators to act as a deterrent to others. In sentencing offenders of such a callous crime against our vulnerable and innocent children, the judiciary should send a strong message to would be abusers.

 “Defilement of children, especially by those who stand in a position of trust to them, must be severely punished, and those who engage in this evil act must be locked up for a long period of time, not only to punish them, but also in an endeavor to deter others who might have similar intentions,” says Anslem Wandega, the ANPPCAN Executive Director.

Wandega further calls upon the police and the directorate of public prosecutions to give defilement cases priority when handling them.  “In most cases, a defilement case is reported to you when there have been a series of failed negotiations between the accused and the parents/guardians/ caregivers of the victim”.

 “It is only fair that such cases that have survived their mortality under such circumstances are carefully but expeditiously handled when they reach the formal justice system”  

From ANPPCAN records, there are some local and international tourists who are engaged defiling children, especially near beaches and on Islands like Kalangala.

 “Government should strengthen its law enforcement mechanism through increased budgetary allocations and equally issue guidelines to hoteliers and all our friends in the entertainment and hospitality industry in order to curb instances where these induce defilement of children,” says Ruth Birungi ANPPCAN’s Coordinator for Research, Information and Policy Advocacy.

ANPPCAN wishes to restate its position that tampering with children of tender years by way of sexual abuse or other forms of violence should be treated as a matter of grave concern by all Ugandans, including all government institutions tasked with child protection.

Way forward
The police and directorate of public prosecutions should always give cases of child abuse priority. Investigations should always be expedited to ensure the child does not suffer secondary abuse as they interface with the justice institutions.

Teachers suspected of defiling children should be put under close watch by schools and other authorities. Government should make sure that when recruiting teachers, they are screened on their child abuse record and recruiting authorities should ensure that others psychological tests are done to determine whether they are fit to work with children.

More health campaigns should be organized to sensitize the girl child on the dangers of early sexual involvement in all schools and communities in Uganda.

A compulsory free birth registration system should be put in place by government to allow easy identification of the age of defilement victims and perpetrators. The national ID system could address this-if it was made to be comprehensive and rolled out effectively.

The government and its local governments should institute bye laws to curb the sale of pornographic materials to children, regulation of video halls, discos, and beaches where most of the sexual abuse takes place. The government should also expedite the enactment of the anti-pornography Bill.

MARLON AGABA
Program Officer for Information