Violence Against Children

This is a 116 page document that examines the stories and opinions of 1406 children and 1093 adults from five diverse districts in Uganda. Five complementary research methods including questionnaires, focus group discussions, narrative role plays, key informant interviews, and journal writing served to engage a broad range of individuals in sharing their experiences and perspectives on violence against children.

Children were asked about their experiences of the violence used against them: how the violence manifests, how often it occurs, who commit it, how it makes them feel, how they react, and what they believe should be done to prevent it. Adults were asked about their perspective of violence against children: how they understand the term “violence against children,” how adults in their communities punish children, how they themselves punish children, how they rationalise the types of punishment they use, and what they believe should be done to prevent violence against children.

In overwhelming numbers, children described the rampant use of violence against them. More than 98 percent of children reported experiencing physical or emotional violence, 75.8 percent reported experiencing sexual violence, and 74.4 percent reported experiencing economic violence. For each form of violence, a significant percentage of children reported experiencing the violence at least once a week or more.

When asked what should be done to prevent violence against children, most children preferred caution and sensitivity. They urged for a nonpunitive response, such as to relate more equitably with children. They suggested engaging a broad cross section of adults in a similar dialogue through communitywide actions. They recommended the creation of local response mechanisms that would meet the needs of children when violence was perpetrated against them. Relatively fewer children suggested the involvement of police (56.9 percent).

Most adults (90 percent) agreed that in their communities, children were deliberately beaten, shouted at, and denied food or basic needs, yet they hesitated to label these acts as “violence.” They preferred the word “punishment,” explaining how adults use these acts to guide children. The adults conceptualised punishment as moderate and acceptable acts and described violence as excessive and inappropriate punishments, which they preferred calling “mistreatment.” Although many adults insisted that they knew the difference between punishing a child and mistreating a child, almost half (46.8 percent) said they would withdraw basic needs from a child as a form of punishment.

Thirty seven percent of adults said that children in their communities were “frequently mistreated,” and a further 55.1 percent said that children were “sometimes mistreated.” Most adults (91.3 percent) described using a combination of physical and emotional punishment to control children, most commonly caning, shouting, and assigning physical work (above and beyond normal chores). When compared to reports from children, adults consistently under-reported the extent of punishment they inflicted on children (with the exception of caning and glaring). Many adults discounted ad hoc incidents of shouting, pinching, or slapping, not even considering them punishment.

When asked why they punished children, many adults claimed that they did it to make children compliant, obedient, and respectful of traditions. However, many adults doubted whether their current methods of punishment would ensure this outcome. Although 87.9 percent of adults said they punished children to guide them on how to behave, only 32.6 percent fi rmly believed that the punishment would change the child’s behaviour. Many adults disapproved of holding adults accountable for their actions against children, believing that this accountability cultivated uncontrollable behaviour in children.

Cumulatively, the findings from this study point to an urgent need for a multi-layered response in Uganda. Firstly there is a need to develop a comprehensive policy framework that addresses within all policy initiatives, the detriment of the current power-based model of the adult-child relationship and its manifestations within homes, schools, and communities. While several child centric policy initiatives are already in place, none of them address the fundamental issue of children’s lack of power in their relationships with adults. Secondly there is a need to develop nonpunitive, practical, and creative outreach programmes that skilfully dispel the antagonism gathering momentum within the adult-child relationship.

These programmes would promote an alternative model for the adult-child relationship; one that fosters mutual respect and encourages child engagement rather than mere compliance within the relationship. Finally there is a need to establish community-based mechanisms that proactively respond to children experiencing violence. Subsequent layers of response would build on these foundational layers to consolidate a long term strategy of promoting equity in the adult-child relationship.

This report’s central aim is to present the voices of children and adults as they were captured in the study. The presentation and layout is aimed at bringing as many of those voices to a wider audience as possible in their clarity and unanimity. It also aims to draw attention to the disconnection between actions and intentions, experiences and perceptions. The first part will describe the methodology or how those voices were engaged. The second part will report on the dialogue with the children and the third part on the dialogue with adults. The final part will draw together the findings of the study to suggest recommendations for actions aimed at various duty-bearers.