Violence against children, the voices of Ugandan ... - Raising Voices

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QUESTION 5Have you experienced economic violence?Economic Violence:Any act or interaction in which the adultintentionally and unjustly withholds from thechild access to family resources or coerces thechild to contribute labour or resources that are,by any reasonable standards, excessive. 13Children reported contributing an enormousamount of labour to their families, yet having littleaccess to the family’s resources and virtually no sayregarding the expenditure of the family’s wealth.Many orphaned children reported being leftdestitute and at the mercy of relatives.My father died, and my uncle took over hisshop. Now he refuses to pay my school fees. Iam now living with my grandmother who hasnothing and is encouraging me to drop out ofschool and find a job.13-year-old boy, Kaseseviolence at least once a week, and 19.3 percentsaid they experienced it “everyday.” 14As to where the violence occurred, 75.3 percentsaid they experienced economic violence mainly athome; 9.3 percent said mainly at school; and 15.3percent said at home and at school.Boys and older children reported a much higherfrequency of experiencing economic violence: 61.2percent of 15 to 18 years old children reportedbeing assigned excessive physical work comparedto 39.2 percent of 8 to 14 years old children. Thisdifference may derive from an explicit decision byadults regarding physical ability, but it may alsoreflect a growing expectation of many adults thatolder children should make a larger economiccontribution to the family.Of the children consulted in this study, 74.4 percentreported having experienced economic violence,such as being denied school fees or money forschool related needs, assigned excessive work,made to work for basic needs, denied moneyfor health care, or denied food as a form ofpunishment. In regard to frequency, 29.9 percentof the children reported experiencing economicFigure 2.9 Types of economic violence experienced bychildren, as per sex of respondentsDenying foodOver workNot providing school feesMaking you work for basic needsNot providing money for healthcareOther0 10 20 30 40 50 60% of respondentsMaleFemaleARE CHILDREN ASSETS?Many children related stories about how theirparents saw them as an economic asset rather thanan individual. Indeed many adults talked aboutchildren being an “investment.” They expectedthe boys to provide for them in the future and girlsto contribute to the family’s wealth through “bride-13See note 4.14See note 5.130Part Two Children’s exprience Experiences of violence
Figure 2.10 Types of economic violence experienced bychildren, as per age of respondentsDenying foodOver workNot providingfees/uniformMaking you workfor basic needsNot providingmoney for health careOtherOf out-school-children consulted in this study, 74.8percent said they dropped out of school primarilybecause they had been denied school fees; 32.9percent of the same group reported that theyhad been denied food as a form of punishment.These two findings may suggest that droppingout of school is a multi-causal event (not just pooracademic performance), since falling out of favourso explicitly must have complex antecedents. Thisappears to be corroborated by manyadults who claimed that their willingnessto support a child or pay school relatedcosts was dependent on their overallapproval of the child. If they deemedthe child unworthy, they would withdrawthis support.15-18 years8-14 years0 20 4060 80% of respondentswater for household use is fetched by children.Children’s reports suggest that adults discount thiseconomic contribution.Furthermore, adults commonly expect children towake up early to begin their duties before schooland to continue working when they return until lateat night. Schoolchildren’s reports reveal the stressthis workload created for them, causing them tofeel exhausted and hungry in the classroom andto fall asleep during lessons. Reports of stress andexhaustion at school worsened for children whoseparents could not afford the monthly charge for theschool’s lunch. These children reported not eatingfrom early in the morning until late in the evening,likely feeding into a cycle of underperformance.I wake up early and have to sweep and thenfetch water and cook porridge for everyone.Then when I come from school, I have to washclothes, pound cassava, cook supper, andwash plates. I am so tired by the time I go tosleep. There is little time to study.13-year-old girl, WakisoFigure 2.11 Types of economic violence experienced by in and out ofschool childrenDenying foodOver workMost children in Uganda contribute asubstantial amount of labour to theirfamilies and schools. Many children, asyoung as 5 or 6 years old, take care oftheir younger siblings, and most of theNot providing school feesMaking you work for basic needsNot providing money for healthcareOther0 20 40 60 80% of RespondentsOut of schoolIn schoolprice.” In the meantime, throughout childhood,many children were expected to contribute aconsiderable amount of labour to earn theirbasic upkeep. While it could be cogently arguedthat children should contribute to their familiesaccording to their ability, is it in a child’s bestinterests to be seen primarily as an asset ratherthan as an individual?Part Here Part Children’s Two Part Children’s exprience Here Section Experiences of violence Title 16 312
Page 1 and 2: ViolenceAgainstChildrenThe Voices o
Page 3 and 4: ViolenceAgainstChildrenThe Voices o
Page 5 and 6: DedicationThis work is dedicated to
Page 7 and 8: TABLES1.1 Children consulted throug
Page 9 and 10: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis study examine
Page 11 and 12: a new dimension to the adult-child
Page 13 and 14: PART ONEResearch DesignPURPOSE OF S
Page 15 and 16: PARTICIPANTSA total of 1406 childre
Page 17 and 18: METHODOLOGYData CollectionThe resea
Page 19 and 20: Through this process, two interesti
Page 21 and 22: Children’s VoicesWhat do you unde
Page 23 and 24: esearch.Children’s Conception of
Page 25: It was recognized during the format
Page 28 and 29: QUESTION 1Have you experienced viol
Page 30 and 31: QUESTION 2Have you experienced phys
Page 32 and 33: Children’s VoicesHave you experie
Page 34 and 35: QUESTION 3Have you experienced emot
Page 38 and 39: QUESTION 4Have you experienced sexu
Page 46 and 47: QUESTION 6Who commits violence agai
Page 48 and 49: Children’s VoicesKey Informant In
Page 50 and 51: QUESTION 7How do you feel when viol
Page 52 and 53: Children’s VoicesHow do you feel
Page 54 and 55: Children’s VoicesYou feel ashamed
Page 56 and 57: QUESTION 8What do you do when viole
Page 58 and 59: Children’s VoicesWhat do you do w
Page 60 and 61: QUESTION 9What, if anything, should
Page 62 and 63: Children’s VoicesWhat, if anythin
Page 64 and 65: Children’s VoicesSensitize elders
Page 66 and 67: KEY FINDINGSMore than 90 percent of
Page 69 and 70: PART THREEAdults’ Rationale for V
Page 71 and 72: QUESTION 1Are children punished in
Page 73 and 74: Adults’ VoicesCulturally, we watc
Page 75 and 76: of being reported to higher authori
Page 77 and 78: QUESTION 3How often do you punish c
Page 79 and 80: Adults’ VoicesHow often do you pu
Page 81 and 82: In what ways do you punish children
Page 83 and 84: Adults’ VoicesIn what ways do you
Page 89 and 90: In interviews, many teachers admitt
Page 91 and 92: Adults’ Voicestimes, I feel happy
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I know beating her has not changed
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QUESTION 7Are there ways in which a
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Adults’ VoicesAre there ways in w
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QUESTION 8What should be done when
Page 101 and 102:
Adults’ VoicesWhat should be done
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6. Adults believe in a hierarchy of
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PART FOURRecommendationsWHAT WOULD
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violence. The legislation should in
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3.6 RESEARCHCommission research tha
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5.9 COMMUNITY SENSITISATIONIntroduc
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Part Four Recommendations101
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Graphic Publishers Ltd, Plot 19A Na
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