The minister of State for Youth and Children’s Affairs, Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, has presented a revised vision of the Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) policy of 2004 as a new comprehensive policy that seeks to take care of all children in Uganda.
While addressing the media is Kampala, Nakiwala, said the new policy will address the patent challenges faced by children like these include illiteracy, poor school performance, physical harm, mental health among others.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you will note that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) is mandated to take lead in care and protection of children in Uganda. Therefore, in 2004, the Ministry developed the National Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children Policy whose goal was to ensure full development and realization of the rights of Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC),” she said.
“This policy has addresses emerging challenges faced by the children for instance the online sexual abuse, genital mutilation, child sacrifice, increasing vulnerability of children due to climate related hazards and urbanization,” she said.
She said while Uganda shows progress in reducing income poverty over the ten years, child vulnerability remains high and widespread spread across the country.
She explained that the new child policy therefore will strive to improve the realization and enjoyment of all children’s rights to survival, development and participation by all children in Uganda. She added that the policy also seeks to support programmes aimed at preventing child mortality and promoting children health including refugee children.
This National Child Policy is to foster child rights friendly, holistic and coordinated services provided to children by government and non- state actors. She said It emphasizes a multi-sectoral approach to addressing needs of Children at National, sub-National and community levels.