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What children prioritize post-conflict
In post-conflict Sierra Leone, education was reprioritized although a range of other
issues connected to safety and protection were also raised. Consultations conducted by
older children with other children, young people and adults found: “With overwhelming
consistency, children cite lack of educational opportunities, poverty and lack of health care
as their top concerns. These are followed closely by lack of shelter/food/water/clothing,
unemployment, and lack of parental/ family/ home care.” 245
In these consultations there are variations by age and gender. For example youth generally
attributed greater importance to unemployment than adolescents. 246 On average, girls
were significantly more concerned about sexual violence and exploitation than boys. Girls
ranked “early or forced marriage” and “unwanted/teen pregnancy” twice as highly as boys
(2.1 vs. 1.1 in the first instance and 2.0 vs. 1.0 in the second). Girls also ranked “prostitution”
and “sexual violence/rape” as substantially higher concerns than boys (2.3 vs. 1.5 for
the former and 1.4 vs. 0.8 for the latter). 247 These views also vary according to location
(between Makeni and Freetown), with girls in Makeni expressing much greater concern,
while boys in Freetown (…) ranked concern over “sexual violence/rape” slightly higher than
girls. 248
Children’s needs and problems fulfilling their rights
Unsafe locations and situations reported by children are complex, and will not be identified
or understood by adults without consultation. Because circumstances change over
time, regular consultation is required. Children identified places where they felt unsafe,
including school, home, shelters and work, as well as situations such as early marriage and
environments of high alcohol consumption.
In Northern Uganda children identified where they felt unsafe and why, raising concerns
for protection, “To me safety means to grow, learn and play without fear” (12-year-old
girl). 249 A survey found children “want to feel safe from corporal punishment, bullying,
forced early marriage, forced labour, those who drink alcohol at home, beatings at
home.” 250 One survey found 79% of children felt unsafe or scared of beatings at school,
while 90% reported feeling unsafe or scared of beatings at home”. Children also reported
feeling unsafe or scared of: those that drink alcohol at home, 85%; forced labour 94% in
two districts and 63% in another; forced marriage 86%; having to change schools 53%;
bullying 86%; and child sacrifice (and abduction, sacrifice not defined), 92%. 251
Family is the most commonly identified factor associated with a child’s feeling of safety
and protection. Children identified locations associated with armed threats as the most
unsafe.” 252 However, these consultations with children showed a more complicated
picture, because “despite children’s association of the home (and family) with safety,
children also report protection threats and instability within the home environment. A