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

QUESTION 8What do you do when violence is committed against you?This question revealed the resourcefulness ofmany children and how they actively tried tofind a solution to their situation. While manychildren expressed despair that adults did nottake their concerns seriously, they often took theresponsibility of becoming protagonists for theirown causes.If you don’t try to do something, you can endup just suffering without end!15-year-old girl, WakisoOf the children consulted in this study, 62.3 percentsaid they would try to find someone that theytrusted for help, although in discussions they oftenfelt that this would only produce a short-termsolution. In comparison, 54.7 percent said theywould cry and hide so that at least they wouldattract attention and deflect further immediatepain; and 42.5 percent said that in serious casesthey would runaway for a short or prolongedperiod of time, to stay at a relative’s house andtemporarily diffuse the situation. Only 20.7 percentof the children said they would do nothing.Girls reported with higher frequency that theywould cry and hide, while a greater number ofboys would go to someone for help. Youngerchildren and in-school children reported withhigher frequency that they would do nothing. Thisdifference suggests that the more dependent achild is on the perpetrator, the less likely they areto seek help.Children, in large numbers, still preferred andsought the protection of their parents. Whenasked whom they would turn to for help, 56.9percent named the other parent; 50.6 percent saidFigure 2.16 Actions of children when they experience violenceAsk for helpCry and hideRunawayNothing0 20 40 60 80% of respondents44 Part Two Children’s Experiences