Human Trafficking in  [Uganda]  [other countries]
Street Children in  [Uganda]  [other countries]
Child Prostitution in  [Uganda]  [other countries]
 

Child Prostitution

The Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children

Uganda                                                                                         [ Country-by-Country Reports ]

Uganda [map], often referred to as the ‘Pearl of Africa’, is bordered on the north by Sudan, on the south by Rwanda and Tanzania, on the east by Kenya, and on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Uganda has substantial natural resources, including fertile soils, regular rainfall, and sizable mineral deposits of copper and cobalt. Agriculture is the most important sector of the economy, employing over 80% of the work force, with coffee accounting for the bulk of export revenues.

 

CAUTION:  The following links and accompanying text have been culled from the web to illuminate the situation in Uganda.  Some of these links may lead to websites that present allegations that are unsubstantiated, misleading or even false.   No attempt has been made to validate their authenticity or to verify their content.

*** FEATURED ARTICLE ***

Grim Future for War Orphans

Many orphaned girls whose refugee camps and night commuter shelters have closed have ended up in towns where they resort to prostitution in order to survive.  An August 2007 survey by the ministry of health and the World Health Organisation in the northern districts of Apac, Gulu, Kitgum, Lira and Pader, revealed that girls as young as 11 years old are in the sex trade.  "I would rather die of HIV/AIDS, because through sex I can at least buy basic commodities like salt, soap and sanitary pads," a 17-year-old girl in Lira told the New Vision newspaper.  Others said they offered sex for as little as 200 Uganda shillings (11 US cents). - sccp

 

*** ARCHIVES ***

National Plan of Action

U.S. Dept of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs

INCIDENCE AND NATURE OF CHILD LABOR - Children are also involved in exploitive labor, including commercial sexual exploitation and other hazardous activities. Uganda is considered to be a source country for trafficking of persons. There is evidence of children being abducted and trafficked across the border to Southern Sudan by the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). The government also acknowledges that internal trafficking of children for labor and commercial sexual exploitation occurs, particularly in border towns and in Kampala.

Bur of Democracy, Human Rights & Labor - Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2005

CHILDREN - Child prostitution and trafficking were problems.  Approximately 35 thousand children, known as "night commuters", traveled from conflict areas or IDP camps each night to urban centers to avoid abduction by the LRA. In September the UN estimated that nearly 9 thousand children commuted nightly into Gulu town and 10,847 commuted in Kitgum. During the year the government cooperated with NGOs to establish shelters for such children in tented dormitories and other semi-permanent structures; in other cases children slept under balconies or on the grounds of schools, churches, and hospitals. Conditions ranged from harsh to adequate. There were credible reports that many displaced girls became involved in prostitution.

Concluding Observations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) - 2005

[75] The Committee is concerned that according to some recent studies a considerable number of children are victims of sexual exploitation. Furthermore, the Committee is deeply concerned at the very high incidence of defilement of girls, constituting more than half of the cases of child abuse. In addition, it notes that the law on sexual abuse is biased against the boy child.

Uganda: Busia Leaders Team Up to Address Sex Trade, Street Children

The influx of Kenyan refugees following the election violence has fuelled sex trade among under age girls in the district.  The Ugandan girls aged between 11-18 years are a big attraction to many. "They charge as low sh500 for sex per hour," said a resident. The looming sex trade coupled with the influx of street children has prompted the Government and Busia district leaders to seek solutions to avert what they described as "a looming crisis".  Busia district probation officer, Julius Ogalo said there are at least 400 street children in the municipality alone."Most of these street children are Karimojongs who come to engage in petty business and smuggling along the border," he said. - sccp

Grim Future for War Orphans

Many orphaned girls whose refugee camps and night commuter shelters have closed have ended up in towns where they resort to prostitution in order to survive.  An August 2007 survey by the ministry of health and the World Health Organisation in the northern districts of Apac, Gulu, Kitgum, Lira and Pader, revealed that girls as young as 11 years old are in the sex trade.  "I would rather die of HIV/AIDS, because through sex I can at least buy basic commodities like salt, soap and sanitary pads," a 17-year-old girl in Lira told the New Vision newspaper.  Others said they offered sex for as little as 200 Uganda shillings (11 US cents). - sccp

Uganda: Child Prostitution On the Rise, Says Kinobe

Maj. Kinobe said prostitution was one of the major factors responsible for the rampant spread of HIV/Aids among young children.  He said it was sad that the children involved in commercial sex have set different rates for protected sex and unprotected sex.  Recent press reports have shown that in some places especially in slum areas, protected sex goes for as little as Shs200 while unprotected goes for about Shs5,000.  Maj. Kinobe said the difference in payment has forced more children to go in for unprotected sex.

Uganda: Forced Onto the Streets to Please the Men

Most of them flee their homes due to abuse and neglect, their heads filled with warped views of urban existence. In reality, these dreams are not fulfilled and the end result is there are children working and sleeping on the streets, fending for themselves in unsafe conditions.

The children are exposed to many dangers. Many become part of child trafficking. They are persuaded under false pretences by elders or family 'acquaintances' that they are moving to new places with better opportunities.  Instead, they are trapped in a world of exploitation, which exposes them to anything from child prostitution to human sacrifices.

Innocent Children Trapped in Prostitution

Girls as young as 13 are peddling their bodies for as low as Shs2,000 in Gulu and the chief buyers are soldiers of the Uganda People Defense Forces. Two nightclubs; Buganda Pub and Alobo in Gulu town serve as a conduit.

ECPAT: Fifth Report on implementation of the Agenda for Action [DOC]

[B] COUNTRY UPDATES – UGANDA – In terms of prevention, Uganda Youth Development Link (UYDEL), through its community outreach program, has been carrying out awareness raising campaigns about the hazards of CSEC and identifying children involved in CSEC and forms of child labor. Meanwhile, ANPPCAN has carried out community sensitization campaigns on children’s rights.  Recently, it has carried out campaigns on child abuse and child labor and it has organized radio and TV programs on child rights related issues.

Report by Special Rapporteur [DOC]

[74] Since the 1996 World Congress against Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, the Government has announced its intention to criminalize the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography. Uganda ratified the OP/SOC, but the sale and trafficking of children are not defined as criminal offences in national legislation and prostitution is handled under the laws governing defilement. There are no specific laws as yet against child pornography, however, in 2001, the editor of a newspaper was arrested for publishing pictures of teenage children involved in a sexual act.

Inter-Agency Internal Displacement Division Mission to Uganda [PDF]

The close proximity of the IDP population to soldiers, widespread idleness and lack of access to land, despondency and alcohol abuse among men and the poor conditions of camp life has resulted in a near total breakdown of Acholi social order and traditional morals. Not the only protection problem, but among the most significant, is the high rate of child prostitution on the one hand and sexual abuse and rape by military personnel and other males in the camps on the other hand.

A comprehensive response to SGBV is constrained by several factors:

a) There is a lack of hard data. Women are generally afraid to come forward and make documented complaints because there is no one to report it to; and

b) Although traditional justice exists in varying degrees, the civilian police or LC courts do not operate well, which means even if cases were reported the options of redress are limited. When UPDF or local militias are the perpetrators, fear of retribution is high.

Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. Based on the Experiences of Slum Aid Project [PDF]

www.kwetu.net/showDoc.asp?contentID=150&titleID=81&path=/documents/title_81/Child%20exploitation.asp

[1.1] NATIONAL SITUATION - Ugandan participants recognized the need for Uganda to come up with a National Action Plan encompassing all kind of child sexual abuse and exploitation including child prostitution. The task of drawing a draft National Action Plan (NAP) was drawn up involving key child rights NGOs and Government line ministries was spearheaded by SAP. Due to Government Bureaucracy the government is yet to embrace this plan.

Child Prostitutes brought to SA

Child prostitution is flourishing in South Africa and syndicates are bringing thousands of children from Asiatic and African countries into the country to sell their bodies. A report compiled by UN officials who investigated child abuse, child rape and prostitution in South Africa claims that children were abducted or lured with false promises from Angola, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda and Eastern Europe.

Human Security Network - Statement by the Austrian Minister for Foreign Affairs

As an example, I would like to direct your attention to one situation, which is particularly alarming: the ongoing abductions of numerous boys and girls in Northern Uganda. Based on reports from a variety of sources we have reason to believe that large numbers of children are still being abducted and held by the Lord's Resistance Army for the use in combat or as sex slaves.

Combating Child Prostitution: The Learning Point for Child Rights Organizations

In a study conducted in Uganda on the problem of child prostitution by Slum Area Project (1999) it was elucidated that the number of teen-age children involved in commercial sex is increasing from time to time.

Caring For Orphans And Street-Children In Uganda

Uganda has an estimated 1.7 million orphans, the highest number in the world, and 25 percent of all households look after at least one child orphaned by either HIV/AIDS or war.  The number of street children in Uganda has increased dramatically over the last two decades. They spend most of their time, day and night, on the street - begging, stealing, using drugs or prostituting themselves to survive.

All material used herein reproduced under the fair use exception of 17 USC § 107 for noncommercial, nonprofit, and educational use

 

 

Human Trafficking in  [Uganda]  [other countries]
Street Children in  [Uganda]  [other countries]
Child Prostitution in  [Uganda]  [other countries]