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

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QUESTION 7How do you feel when violence is committed against you?Children’s response to this question was overwhelming. The question elicited powerful and animatedresponses and revealed reactions to violence that spanned a broad spectrum of emotions including fury, rage,bitterness and resignation. Many children felt that adults did not give due weight to the depth of their feelingsand felt frustrated by how seldom anyone would understand their reaction. Most of the time, children seemedunresolved about what to do with their feelings.I feel like my heart will explode if I start saying how I feel about her. She treats me worse than ananimal and there is nothing I can do about it. I feel like running away and becoming a prostitute.14-year-old girl, KaseseMost children (66.7 percent) reported feeling “anger.” In focus group discussions, many children talked aboutfeeling indignation followed by despair regarding the powerless situation in which they found themselves.Children often reported that they did not understand or accept the logic of the punishment, that adultsignored their pleas to be taken seriously, to engage in a dialogue, or to receive an explanation as to why theywere being treated in that manner. Many children learned from such transactions that a person with morepower does not have to be accountable.The second most common response (65.9 percent) was “fear.” Many children reported that they lived inperpetual fear of the adults around them. They learned that fearing adults was the safest way of avoidingviolence, and, as a result, theycreated relationships of complianceand obedience rather than mutualaffection. A higher percentageof older and in-school childrenreported fearing adults aroundthem, compared to their youngerand out-of-school counterparts. Thisdifference could suggest that adultsuse fear as a tool for asserting theirauthority, especially in schools orin situations where they feel theircontrol over children could beundermined.Figure 2.15 Types of feelings children have when experiencingviolenceAngry at the personScared of the personAshamed of myselfWant to take revengeOther (ignore, forgive)Don’t know0 2040 6080% of respondents38 Part Two Children’s Experiences
The third most common response (56.6 percent) was“feeling ashamed of oneself.” This shame translated mostcommonly into a withdrawn demeanour, intense shyness,or lack of self-esteem. Girls (60.3 percent) and out-ofschoolchildren (65.3 percent) reported feeling ashamedin higher proportion to their counterparts. This could be aconsequence of the generally marginalized positions boththese groups of children occupy within their communitiesand within their families, thus being particularly vulnerableto internalising blame for what happens to them.More than one third of the children (36 percent) harbouredfantasies of revenge, as they grappled with what to dowith their feelings. They often acted out these fantasies onyounger children, and, accordingly, many younger childrenreported being victimized by older children.Disturbingly, a significant proportion of children,particularly orphans and those living with a stepparent,revealed transitional thoughts of committing suicide.Sometimes I think about joining my parents inparadise where they are waiting for me. What is leftfor me here?16-year-old boy, IgangaWhen these thoughts of suicide were explored in focusgroup discussions, many times children revealed that thiswas the only act they had control over that might getadults to pay attention to their concerns.If they come to bury me, at least they will have toask why I had to die.14-year-old girl, NakapiripiritPart Two Children’s Experiences 39
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 42 and 43: QUESTION 5Have you experienced econ
Page 46 and 47: QUESTION 6Who commits violence agai
Page 48 and 49: Children’s VoicesKey Informant In
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
Page 93 and 94: I know beating her has not changed
Page 95 and 96: QUESTION 7Are there ways in which a
Page 97 and 98: Adults’ VoicesAre there ways in w
Page 99 and 100: 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
Page 105 and 106:
PART FOURRecommendationsWHAT WOULD
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violence. The legislation should in
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3.6 RESEARCHCommission research tha
Page 111 and 112:
5.9 COMMUNITY SENSITISATIONIntroduc
Page 113 and 114:
Part Four Recommendations101
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Graphic Publishers Ltd, Plot 19A Na
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