Uganda raises the big stick on child labour in the country

9th Jan 2015 In Uganda, the National Council for Children and International Day of the African Child and Youth have warned against employing minors. The warning was issued by Martin Kiiza, the NCC secretary general from his Kampala office to parents, guardians and local community leaders, to protect children and minors. He said the government will not tolerate child abuse or child labor in any form, and also stated that other vices detrimental to the wellbeing of children are forbidden.

He is quoted as saying “It is everyone’s responsibility to protect children, children have fundamental rights to survival, development, protection and participation as enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child which Uganda ratified.”

The National COUNCIL for children boss also noted that physical violence is a common problem in the communities, and has resulted to children’s inability to thrive as it affects them negatively. He also addressed early marriages for girls, which leaves them exposed to abuse and ill health. He said “These children have the right to be protected from sexual abuse, physical violence, exploitation and from being sold into marriage as a start,”

According to Anslem Wandega, executive director of African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect, the preliminary data from a survey on child abuse showed that the issue of child domestic work is big. Mr. Wandega said that children have a right to survive, but that some of them are grappling with challenges like HIV/AIDS, and others do not complete primary education cycles. He however reasserted the government’s determination to deal with the situation and said the government will not treat cases of defaulters lightly.