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

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Adults’ Rationale for their Violence Against ChildrenThe concept of violence against children generated much debateamongst adults. It led to heated discussions about what it meant,its implications for the adult-child relationship, and how it haschallenged deep-seated, traditional values. The discussionsconsistently came back to adults’ belief that any concessions aroundthe issue could lead to erosion of the absolute authority adultsclaimed over the actions of children.During formative research, many members of the adult advisorygroup asserted that adults had a duty to guide children, and thatphysical and emotional pain served as useful tools in enabling adultsto fulfil that duty. They insisted that these interventions should beunderstood as “punishment” to correct children’s behaviour andthat excessive punishment should be seen as “mistreatment,” notviolence. These adults believed it should be taken for granted thatthey had the best interests of children at heart, and that lapses inadults’ judgment should be seen as an aberration rather than a wayof interacting with children. They further asserted that the majorityof adults intuitively knew the difference between guiding childrenthrough punishment and mistreating them. They were suspicious ofwhat they perceived as an external value system (i.e., the rhetoric ofchildren’s rights) undermining the status quo.Thus, the dialogue with adults, as reported in the following pages,was conducted on their own terms. The concept of “punishingchildren” was used instead of “violence against children.” Thequestions were phrased with the intention of ascertaining the nature,frequency, and motivation for the “acts” as opposed to what the actsmeant to the perpetrators. (for further discussion on terminologyused see page 12 and 13).58 Part Three Adults’ Rationale
QUESTION 1Are children punished in your community?Punishing children has become normalized. Manyadults use it as their primary method for teachingchildren how to behave. Most adults consulted in thisstudy talked with pride about how the adults withintheir communities punished children to control theirbehaviour.You are not a serious [responsible] adult if you don’tpunish children.male, community leader, NakapiripiritOf the adults consulted through questionnaires, 90percent said that children were being punished intheir communities. More than one third of them (35.2percent) said “many” children were being punished,and very few (8 percent) said that children were “rarely”punished in their communities.More women (38.7 percent) than men (31.7 percent)said that “many” children were punished, while moreFigure 3.1 Perception of norms regardingpunishment of children, by sexof respondentsYes, manyYes, someRarelyNeverI don’t know010 20% of respondentsMaleFemale30 40 50 60men (58.4 percent) than women (49.9 percent) saidthat “some” children were being punished. Thisdifference suggests that men are not aware of ordiscount punishment that is meted out to childrenon an ad hoc basis.Figure 3.2 Percentage of adults who punishchildren, by role of respondentsCommunity leadersParentsTeachers0 10 20 30 40 50 60% of respondentsYes, manyYes, someRarelyNeverI don’t knowAs a group, 45.9 percent of the communityleaders reported that “many” children were beingpunished in their communities, and 44.7 percentsaid “some” children were being punished.In discussions, many adults talked with pride,especially community leaders and parents, abouthow they were contributing to upholding the valuesof the community by ensuring that children obeyedtheir elders. If community leaders are assumedto represent the values of the community, thenthese numbers suggest that the punishment ofchildren is common and is seen as a good thingfor the community. It reflects well on adults of thecommunity if they publicly demonstrate that theyare “controlling” children.Part Three Adults’ Rationale 59
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ViolenceAgainstChildrenThe Voices o
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ViolenceAgainstChildrenThe Voices o
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DedicationThis work is dedicated to
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TABLES1.1 Children consulted throug
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis study examine
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a new dimension to the adult-child
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PART ONEResearch DesignPURPOSE OF S
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PARTICIPANTSA total of 1406 childre
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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 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: PART THREEAdults’ Rationale for V
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
Page 103 and 104: 6. Adults believe in a hierarchy of
Page 105 and 106: PART FOURRecommendationsWHAT WOULD
Page 107 and 108: violence. The legislation should in
Page 109 and 110: 3.6 RESEARCHCommission research tha
Page 111 and 112: 5.9 COMMUNITY SENSITISATIONIntroduc
Page 113 and 114: Part Four Recommendations101
Page 115 and 116: Graphic Publishers Ltd, Plot 19A Na
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