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

This was the first explicit discussion of abuse ofchildren as defined by the subjects of the studyrather than the researchers. Three central issuesemerged from these reports.defensive postures, many adults shared theiranxiety and confusion. Many felt conflicted aboutwhere their loyalties lie and what their duty oughtto be as moral adults.Firstly, despite a calculated silence, a large numberof adults are aware that children are being abusedin their community yet are either unwilling orunable to protect children from such abuse.Secondly, despite assertions to the contrary,a significant proportion of adults were unableto retain a reliable perspective on where theboundary lay between guiding (“punishing”) andabusing (“mistreatment”) of children. Many adultsrelated stories of children being grossly abused,such as being burned or caned heavily for minoroffences or being worked wellbeyond their capacity, yet adultskept insisting in formal conversationsthat they always act in the best90interests of their children.80Yes, many children are being mistreated here.Some people treat their children worse thananimals. They make them work long hours,and many stepfathers abuse their daughters.Others just shout and kick their children even ifthey have done nothing wrong, simply becausehe [adult] is drunk or angry at something else.Sometimes it pains my heart but what can Ialone do? I don’t know what to tell them [theparent]. I don’t know what to do.female, parent, NakapiripiritFigure 3.18 Adults’ perception of child mistreatment in theircommunityThirdly, far from being engagedin a systematic method to guidechildren’s behaviour, some adultswere often merely releasingtheir frustration on the child andsubsequently justifying their actionas punishment.Clearly many adults are willing tomaintain a duplicitous stance toavoid accountability regarding howthey relate with children. However,in conversations that went beyond706050403020100BurningTying upLocking upExcessive beatingDisowningForced sexBeing touchedForcing to touch themKissing on mouthSexual HarassmentExposing themselvesAssign all household workLook after babiesHeavy loadsWork long hoursPhysical Sexual Economic84 Part Three Adults’ Rationale