Protecting and Meeting Rights of Children during Conflict? Reflections on the Activities of Three Indigenous Social Work Agencies in Northern Uganda
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Date
2012
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
British Journal of Social Work
Abstract
The complex humanitarian emergency in northern Uganda was occasioned by the two
decades of conflict. As a result, several development organisations (local and international)
responded to the support needs of children and communities affected by
the armed conflict in northern Uganda. Some interventions were developed to meet
the psycho-social needs of the children at the reception and rehabilitation centres
(RRCs) and in the community. Others were designed to respond to the psycho-social challenges
of their families and of the returning children. Interventions have also been
developed to address the children’s resettlement and reintegration needs. In this
paper, I make a critical analysis of the activities of three indigenous organisations,
namely CARITAS Gulu archdiocese; Gulu Support the Children Organisation (GUSCO);
and Concerned Parents Association (CPA), as they carry out support activities for children
associated with fighting forces. I utilize a child rights discourse in analyzing the interventions
and their overall implications to social work practice in a complex context. I argue
that, while these interventions were relevant to the circumstances of the children and
young people, they in many cases fell short of fully empowering them to engage
more proactively with their communities.
Description
Keywords
Child rights discourse, Reintegration, Conflict, Agency
Citation
Ochen, E. A. (2012). Protecting and meeting rights of children during conflict? Reflections on the activities of three indigenous social work agencies in Northern Uganda. British Journal of Social Work, 42(6), 1192-1212. doi:10.1093/bjsw/bcs126