KAMPALA – Cabinet on June 22, 2020 approved a National Child Policy that integrates all children related issues.
A child in Uganda is a person below 18 years of age. Government and parents/caregivers have a statutory mandate to fulfil realisation of children’s rights to enable them grow and develop to full potential (Constitution of Uganda, 1995).
State minister for Children Affairs Florence Nakiwala told journalists on Tuesday, 23rd June 2020 that the National Child Policy is to foster child rights friendly, holistic and coordinated services provided to children by Government and Non- state actors. It emphasizes a multi-sectoral approach to addressing needs of Children at National, sub-National and community levels.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you will note that the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD) is mandated to take lead in care and protection of children in Uganda. Therefore, in 2004, the Ministry developed the National Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children Policy whose goal was to ensure full development and realization of the rights of Orphans and other Vulnerable Children (OVC),” she said.
The minister added that the government has been implementing the OVC Policy for the last 17 years.
However, Ms Nakiwala said the OVC Policy’s scope has been narrow owing to its focus on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children. “With the expiry of second National Strategic Programme Plan of Intervention in FY 2015/16, the OVC Policy has no attendant plan that addresses emerging challenges faced by children. For instance, online sexual abuse, Genital Mutilation, Child Sacrifice, increasing vulnerability of children due to climate-related hazards and urbanization.”
