Violence against children on the rise - report

Violence against children both male and female has doubled in the last two years and the problem is there is no sign of a decline in cases.

According to a survey conducted by the gender ministry, physical violence is the most prevalent form of violence experienced in childhood with nearly six in 10 females and seven in 10 males.

More than half of these had their experience between six and 11years.

The 2016 crime statistics captured 43,682 cases of violence against children countrywide.

Of those, 15,005 victims/suspects were counselled, 3,144 cases referred to other stakeholders and 2,627 cases taken to court.

From January to September 2017, they were over 60,322 cases of violence against children.

The survey shows that children with disabilities, orphans and children with absentee parents are at greater risk of violence.

About 60.4% school children reported routinely being beaten and humiliated for reasons such as coming late or making noise in class.

"Within homes, children are punished for lying, disobedience, answering back, stealing, failure to do domestic chores or poor performance in school homework. While the intentions in some cases may not be to harm the child more often children suffer injuries, pain and ins some cases impairment," reads the report.

This was revealed by the state minister for youth and children affairs Florence Nakiwala yesterday while opening the first national learning event on child wellbeing at Hotel African in Kampala.

The conference theme ran under the title: Applying legal and policy frameworks for improved child well-being.

"Violence against children is increasing in the country; what is sad is that millions of these children are continuing to suffer violence in their homes, but very few perpetrators have been brought to book.

"It is everyone's responsibility to protect children because they are very important for the future existence of this country," said Nakiwala.

Nakiwala called upon parents to be more responsible and create time for their families.

"It is a shame that our homes are now havens of violence, mothers should be very busy for their children, they should always have time to talk with their children to know what they are going through because children always open up when they are with someone they trust," noted Nakiwala.

During the conference, Mondo Kyateka, the commissioner at gender ministry urged parents to look after their children so that they can enjoy their retirement.

"Be responsible parents, make sure your children are in school, access good health, when you invest in them now, they will also look after you in your old age when you do not have the energy to look after yourself," noted Kyateka.

During the conference, children from different schools shared the problems they go through and requested Government to come to their rescue.

"In Kamuli, we have a problem of early marriages, some step mothers mistreat us and stop us from going to school, they instead send us to go and pick cocoa," said Nanyumba Majidhu, a pupil of Kamuli Progressive School.

"In Bundibugyo, some of our parents are drunkards, especially fathers, when they are drunk, they do not care about us whether we have eaten, usually they come back home late and wake us up to prepare for them water for bathing," said a pupil from Ramogi Primary school.