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Children in Context. Exploring the Karamoja context for the promotion of child rights. Overview. Why is this important? Child rights in context Nature of childhood in Karamoja The agency of Karimojong children Protecting children in Karamoja
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Children in Context Exploring the Karamoja context for the promotion of child rights
Overview • Why is this important? • Child rights in context • Nature of childhood in Karamoja • The agency of Karimojong children • Protecting children in Karamoja • Working within context to accord the rights of children in Karamoja
Why is this important? • “Chronic Emergency” • Human Development Index under 0.300 points, lower than Sierra Leone1 • More than 50% under 18 years • Children as investment and security 1 Situation of Women and Children in Uganda Report, UNICEF 2005 and Human Development Report, UNDP 2007
Child rights in context • Rights as a universal concept that must be applied contextually • What rights mean for children • “Do No Harm”
Child rights triangle CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT
Nature of childhood in Karamoja • How children develop differs in different contexts • The story of Nakiru and Lokiru • Ere = manyatta = settlement • Awuyii = kraal = mobile camp
Karimojong Values • Good man and good woman • Respect for elders, parents, teachers • Good behaviour to avoid problems • Mind responsibilities • Hard working • Education, study hard to get jobs
Agency of Karimojong children • Responsibilities • How children are heard • Kids say the most peculiar things • How children contribute their opinions • How children are agents in their own lives • Role in out-migration • Youth disciplinary committees
Child protection risks • Insecurity • Early marriage • Child sexual abuse • Out-migration • Exploitive labour • Female Genital Cutting
Child protection structures • Formal system • Informal system • Links between the formal & informal • Challenges in information • Challenges in access, effectiveness, & accountability
Working within the context • How do we build upon values to promote child rights in Karamoja? • How do we encourage the participation and agency of children within this context? • How do we work in an integrated manner to protect children? • HOW DO WE ENSURE THAT ALL CHILDREN ENJOY THEIR RIGHTS?
ALAKARA NOI Jennifer Tang International Institute for Child Rights and Development jtiicrd@uvic.ca www.iicrd.org