Members of Parliament have asked government to enforce laws and policies that protect children from abuse.<\/p>\n
The Legislators raised their concerns in support of two motions on; Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Children against Violence moved by Hon. Judith Akello Franca and Implementation of all Policies and Legislations relating to Children tabled by Hon. Judith Alyek. This was during the plenary session,on Tuesday, 18th July, 2017.<\/p>\n
Alyek said that children are suffering violence with several cases of sexual and physical abuse reported while others have been killed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to see the formation of a Children\u2019s Authority to make it easy to monitor and implement children\u2019s rights,\u201d said Hon. Alyek.<\/p>\n
She added that there is a need to rehabilitate street children and other children that are subjected to torture.<\/p>\n
Akello said that more than 90% of children are vulnerable to torture and mistreatment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to stop doing things haphazardly and streamline all the policies and processes of protecting children,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Hon. Margaret Byabashaija\u00a0 said that children\u2019s rights are violated in their parents\u2019 homes through being beaten and overly worked.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren are being defiled and married off at a tender age; 48% of girls are married off because their parents want quick money and the dropout rate is still high at 73%,\u201d Byabashaija said.<\/p>\n
Hon. Hellen Asamo said that children with disabilities are usually abused and taken advantage of because they are seen to be lesser human beings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe issue of the parents\u2019 role is key to the support of children, let us legislate for the protection of these children and let us have the Children\u2019s Authority instituted,\u201d Asamo noted.<\/p>\n
The Minister of State for Finance, Hon. David Bahati said that he could relate to the suffering children are subjected to.<\/p>\n
\u201cChildren in these situations go through a lot of challenges and we should address these issues in a comprehensive manner. Let us come up with a law to protect children,\u201d Bahati said.<\/p>\n
The Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity, Hon. Simon Lokodo also noted that the social moral fibric has deteriorated and there is a lot of negligence amongst parents and the authorities.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is sad to see a parent dump a child in the toilet; commit incest and rape, sacrificing a child for wealth and so many other things,\u201d said Hon. Lokodo adding that, \u201cMuch as the motion seeks a special response towards children issues by the government, I want to reiterate the responsibility of families and schools. As adults and elders, we need to fight apathy.\u201d<\/p>\n