UGANDA: Poverty driving child sex abuse in the north

Photo: Sven Torfinn/IRIN

Sexual abuse is a reality for many northern children since the war

GULU, 21 July 2008 (PlusNews) - Acute poverty is forcing girls as young as 14 into early marriage and sex work in parts of northern Uganda affected by the war, says a new report by local NGOs.

A combination of extreme poverty, a large number of child-headed households, and the high mobility of internally displaced families are among the factors that have led to girls being subjected to sexual abuse or engaging in sex work, according to the Gulu Support the Children Organisation (GUSCO) and the Acholi Community Empowerment Network.

The two NGOs, both working to support children affected by armed conflict, interviewed over 100 respondents between December 2007 and February 2008 in a study prompted by a significant increase in the number of reported cases of child sexual abuse in the districts of Gulu and Amuru in northern Uganda.

Statistics obtained from northern regional police records indicate around 1,300 reported cases of sexual abuse of girls between January and June 2008, with Gulu and Amuru districts recording the highest number of incidents.

Hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northern Uganda - who fled their homes during two decades of war between the rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) and the Ugandan government  - are living in "satellite" camps in between official IDP camps and their home villages as they try to regain their land.

Many children have been left alone in the official IDP camps to continue attending school. "Unguarded by their parents, they are vulnerable to sexual abuse," the report said.

Contrary to international legal standards that set adulthood at the age of 18, in many areas of northern Uganda girls are considered adult at the age of 16. "Girls are forced into marriage by their families between the ages of 15 and 18 for economic gain, i.e. the bride price," the report said. "Beyond 18, they are in some communities referred to as "oruta" ['used' in the local Acholi language] or "ogek" [wasted]."

Study respondents also said men sought younger sexual partners in the belief that they were less likely to be infected with HIV. According to the ministry of health, HIV prevalence in Uganda's central northern region is 8.2 percent, compared with a national average of 6.4 percent.

Many girls, struggling to keep themselves fed and clothed, have taken to hanging around local bars, hoping to be picked up by soldiers or businessmen. "My parents are dead; they were killed by the rebels and this is the only way for my survival. I earn between 5,000 shillings [US$3] and 8,000 shillings [$5] a day from clients in night clubs and bars," one 15-year-old girl in Gulu told IRIN/PlusNews.

"We have cases where girls are being sold in bars for sex in exchange for money, while other men exploit young girls working as baby-sitters in their homes," said Joseph Kilama, Gulu district child protection officer. "Large numbers of girls, working illegally as barmaids under the age of 18, are reportedly sexually abused by inebriated customers."

The study found that the perpetrators of child sex abuse included aid workers, businessmen, farmers, teachers, relatives and armed personnel, such as members of the LRA and soldiers of the national Uganda People's Defence Forces.

My parents are dead; they were killed by the rebels and this is the only way for my survival

"This region has been under conflict and children have continued to be sexually and psychologically abused," regional police commander Phenihensas Arinaitwe told IRIN/PlusNews. He said the police received a minimum of five reports of child sex abuse every day.

Improved reporting mechanisms

The researchers found that raising awareness of child sex abuse and HIV had contributed to a recent increase in the reporting of these crimes, which are traditionally underreported.

"Continuous HIV/AIDS sensitisation campaigns, which include advertising prevention services available for survivors of rape and sexual abuse, have encouraged people to report cases more frequently," the report said.

Many health practitioners require a police form before a patient is provided with post-exposure prophylaxis, which has also increased the number of child sexual abuse cases being reported to the police.

"Respondents also noted the positive impact of grassroots participation in the promotion of rights awareness and reporting procedures. This includes the role of local leaders, past victim's parents and Special Police Constables ... People are in many cases more likely to listen to those whom they know and trust," the report added.

Francis Odokorach, GUSCO's programme officer, pointed out a gap between reported cases and those that made it to the courts. "Few cases reach the judge," he said. "There are a variety of reasons for this, including parents using the reported case as an opportunity to extort money from perpetrators."

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