In Uganda, it has been proved that orphans are the ones who most often come into contact with the law. This situation is mirrored in other countries in the region – children who are desperate and exploited are those that seem to get caught by the police. In Eastern and Central Africa, the judicial systems are weak and under funded. As a result, children who come into contact with the legal system rarely receive fair and humane treatment. Save the Children Sweden is supporting a variety of NGOs that support the police and the judiciary to ensure their rights are being respected throughout the process.
We also support training of police in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, and Uganda, that provide police a foundation on children’s rights and give them suggestions on how to treat children in their custody. At the same time, similar training is extended to judges, traditional or customary judges and lawyers so they try juvenile cases accordingly, ensure it is done quickly and that the children are only sentenced to custodial care in extreme cases.
In northern Sudan, we provide legal aid, education and rehabilitative services to children in conflict with the law. In In addition to strengthening the legal structures, we support alternative programmes to incarceration, encouraging community-led approaches.
In Ethiopia, a partner organisation has also established community correction centers serving 500 children, which provide structure and support so that the children can overcome the issues that led them to petty crime.
As part of our global submission to the UN Study on Violence Against Children, we conducted studies in Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan and Uganda, on children in conflict with the law, physical and humiliating punishment, and child sexual abuse. Children participated both at the national and regional levels. As chair of the child participation sub group, we developed a concept paper on child participation in the regional consultations, organised training on child participation for steering committee members, and drafted guidelines and agreements for the selection of child participation in the national and regional consultation.
In northern Sudan, we support lawyers to provide legal aid to poor and vulnerable children in conflict with the law. Unfortunately, the systems are not ideal, and children sometimes end up in remand homes. Children in remand homes are able to either go to school or vocational training with support from us.
We also advocate for changes within the legal systems. In southern Sudan, we took part in the process and the actual drafting of a Children's Bill, which is compatible with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
For more information about our regional focus, please contact the Regional Programme Officer for Children and Violence, Ms Tina Ojuka.
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