Parliamentarian Urges District Leaders To Sensitize Communities About The Various Forms Of Violence Children face in homes

Sunday, July 2, 2017

By Emmanuel Amone, Communications officer

The woman member of Parliament for Kole district, Judith Alyek Odongo has called for increased sensitization on the laws protecting women and children at all levels in Lango sub-region to end violence against children. Alyek attributed the rising cases of child violence to lack of access and knowledge of the existing bylaws by the local leaders. Alyek joined political leaders, the police and civil society organizations working in Lira, Kole, Dokolo and Oyam districts in an event at Aculubanya Primary School in Kole district organized by World Vision Uganda calling for renewed commitment to end violence against children. 

 “Sensitization must start from the upper to the lower levels. We need these laws to protect the vulnerable children,” Alyek said.

The legislator, who is also the chairperson HIV/AIDS parliamentary committee not only commended World Vision for ‘working towards safe guarding the future of young boys and girls’ but also called for protection of children from the different forms of abuse existing in society that are inflicted on them like sexual abuse and child labor. She called upon everyone in the community to take the mantle to stop violence against children in society.

“It takes a world to end violence against Children. It takes you and me….it is our Responsibility as people living in this worldto end violence against our own children” added Alyek

 Pupils from primary schools led by a brass band preceded the event with a march through the town.

While at the function, various invited guests including district chairpersons, Residence District Commissioners, District Police Commanders, Faith leaders and pupils from primary schools all voiced their call to end violence against children in their respective districts.

Other activities of the day included poems and recitations from pupils and a testimony from a victim of child marriage.

Children in Uganda continue to face many forms of violence including domestic abuse, child sacrifice and child marriage. According to UNICEF reports, Uganda is ranked 18th in the world when it comes cases of child marriage.

World Vision’s campaign ‘It takes a world to end violence against children’ aims to catalyze a global movement of people committed to keeping children safe from harm.  World Vision Uganda thematic areas for Ending Violence Against Children campaign are ending child sacrifice, ending child marriage and ending violence against children in schools