Deprivation of a Child ‘s Liberty as a last resort

Deprivation of a Child ‘s Liberty as a last resort

Uganda Country report

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Note 10

Majority of children express interest in being re-united with their families, except for a few. Many hope to do apprenticeship training, farming and those who go to school want to go back to school when they leave the center. However majority are not sure if their family members know where they have been because ever since they were arrested they have never heard from them.

Call for Action:

Legislation should be advanced to operationalise the principle of “detention as a measure of last resort and for the shortest time possible”. Emphasize more restorative rather than retributive justice, tackling more the conditions that lead to juvenile delinquency, such as unemployment by the parents and the need for survival”

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Massive sensitization of the Rights of Children trough; massive publicity of international standards, information campaigns and massive training and education on programmes on juvenile justice issues for key members of government (prosecutors, judges, lawyers, social workers, among others) , criminal justice agencies and civil society.

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Special efforts should be made to prevent juvenile delinquency through effective educational opportunities, stable family environments and community-based programs that respond to the special concern of children and offer appropriate guidance and counseling to them and their families.”

Abstract from “Have you forgotten us ?”

Uganda country report – in preparation for the Global Conference on Child Justice in Africa, held from the 7^th – 8^th November, in Kampala in Uganda.