Eliminating Harmful Practices against Children: A Call for a Renewed Commitment to Promoting the Inclusion of Children with Special Needs.
Today marks 31 years since the African Union declared 16 June the Day of the African Child. The day was first observed in 1991 to remember the lives of over 1,000 innocent children who rose up to protest the discriminatory practices and poor quality of education orchestrated by the apartheid regime in South Africa. It is now commemorated annually to raise awareness of the plight of vulnerable children in Africa and across the globe.
Refugee Law Project joins the rest of the world in commemorating the Day of the African Child under the theme: “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children: Progress on Policy & Practice since 2013.” This theme is timely given the unique challenges children face in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Maputo Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa defines harmful practices as all behaviors, attitudes, and practices that negatively affect the fundamental rights of women and girls, such as their right to life, health, dignity, education, and physical integrity.
The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) selected this theme to call on Governments, UN agencies, international organizations, NGOs, CSOs, and other relevant stakeholders to renew their ongoing engagements toward the protection and assistance of children affected by harmful practices. It emphasizes the importance of organizing specific activities and programs to prevent, protect, and assist children who are at risk and victims of harmful practices in Africa. In Uganda, government and non-government actors have made significant contributions to protecting children against harmful practices. The National Child Policy (NCP) demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring the well-being of children. The National Child Protection Working Group brings together all partners working towards child protection and well-being. In addition, “Sauti,” a communication platform under the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MGLSD), provides a space for reporting abuses against children. These are among the many approaches Uganda is implementing to strengthen child protection and welfare.
Despite these efforts, many vulnerable children remain at risk. Refugee children, particularly those affected by forced displacement, face even greater challenges. Children with special needs, especially those with disabilities, endure double jeopardy. They must cope not only with the trauma of forced migration but also with the stigma and discrimination rooted in social attitudes toward disability. These children are often subjected to harmful practices, ranging from overt abuse to subtler forms such as labeling, which deeply affect their self-esteem and general well-being.
Refugee children with special needs are affected by a wide range of harmful practices. These include cultural practices such as early marriages, beliefs linking disability to sorcery, and hiding children with special needs due to stigma and shame. They are also exposed to physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and exclusion from community life. Such practices have far-reaching consequences on children’s well-being. Families, communities, and schools often hold negative perceptions about the potential of these children to become successful citizens, leading to lowered expectations and discouraging them from aspiring to succeed. Many eventually drop out of school. Physically, neglect can worsen existing conditions as children fail to receive timely medical and psychosocial support. Physical and social barriers further limit participation. Emotionally, refugee children with special needs may withdraw from family, peers, school, and the community, grappling with low self-esteem and a negative view of themselves and the world. These effects make it difficult for them to develop a strong identity.
Limited access to education continues to fuel harmful practices and exposes children to additional risks such as child marriage. Refugee children, especially those with disabilities, face significant barriers to education. More than half of all refugee children in Uganda (57%) are out of school, and many have already missed several years of education. Even when they attend, their schooling is inconsistent due to difficult living conditions. For those in school, the quality of education is severely compromised by shortages of classrooms and learning materials, as well as class sizes as high as 1 teacher to 150 children. Language barriers remain a major challenge for children from non-English speaking countries. For children with disabilities, the situation is even worse, as they require extra support that is often unavailable.
As Refugee Law Project, we believe that limited access to education puts many children at risk of harmful practices. Efforts to ensure that all children, particularly the most marginalized, attain quality, accessible, and inclusive education present a significant opportunity to combat harmful practices. In partnership with other stakeholders, we have invested in building the capacity of parents, caretakers, teachers, school management committees, local leaders, and service providers. These efforts equip stakeholders with the knowledge and skills needed to respond to the needs of children with special needs. We are also working to improve access to inclusive education for refugee children with special needs, giving them a chance at life and protecting them from harm.
As we commemorate the Day of the African Child, let us reflect on the strides made in promoting quality inclusive education for children with special needs, the barriers that still exist, and the way forward toward a future where all children are fully supported to access education and realize their potential. Quality inclusive education is one of the most effective ways of protecting children from harm because it provides them with both safety and opportunity.
We therefore call on government to expedite the enactment of the Inclusive Education Policy to ensure that all children can access quality inclusive education. We urge continuous awareness-raising about the importance of children’s full participation in education. We appeal to all stakeholders to recognize and respond to the less visible harmful practices that continue to disempower children. Finally, we encourage service providers to deliver trauma-informed support services for refugee children with special needs.
Happy International Day of the African Child, 2022.
