THE UGANDA CHILD RIGHTS NGO NETWORK

1st Edition UCRNN UPDATE

FOREWORD:

This is the first issue of the UCRNN periodic bulletin. The bulletin is designed to regularly update members on the events the network and particular members are/will be undertaking. The bulletin will be issued out regularly. The sustainability of this regular news update depends on information from you - our members. Small articles, poems, pictures, views and whatever interesting information you may have from your activities are most welcome! Sharing is important to get new ideas and to strengthen our capacity as a coalition.

Rebecca Jiga
Advocacy and information officer

UCRNN ADVOCACY STRATEGY

This year in March we held a 5-day Advocacy Strategy workshop at the Jinja Nile Resort. 30 member organisations participated in the workshop. The workshop combined advocacy training and identifying issues we could take forward as a network. At the end of the workshop a framework had been formulated and two issues identified; Child Sexual Abuse and Child Domestic Labour.

So far UCRNN has celebrated the Day of the African Child with the theme child sexual abuse, had an open space meeting at the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, where we shared issues on child sexual abuse, held TV talk shows on child sexual abuse, produced a newspaper pull out on CSA, all as a way of actualizing the strategy. Several member organisations have also taken up activities in line with issues identified at the workshop. ANPPCAN Uganda, chapter has held a media campaign to expose the evils of child domestic workers. A meeting will be held with members at a later date to see how the strategy can be jointly taken forward.

In the meantime we encourage member organisations to share whatever activities they have/will be undertaking to actualize the strategy.

DAY OF THE AFRICAN CHILD

• A series of activities planned by UCRNN to mark the day included: A Press conference, a Procession, a 2-day exhibition, radio and TV talk shows, Newspaper pullouts, Public dialogue on the theme 'Preventing child sexual abuse and exploitation: Whose responsibility?' presented by Lady Justice Julia Ssebutinde and the production of a Video Documentary highlighting member organisations work on Child Sexual Abuse.
• The activities were aimed at raising awareness on the issue of child sexual abuse and exploitation.

CONSULTATIVE GROUP MEETING

• A Consultative Group (CG) meeting is normally held in June after the budget presentation. The consultative group meeting brings together representatives of government, donor, private sector and civil society organisations during which reports, concerns and expectations on the development process in Uganda are shared.
• UCRNN is on the interim committee constituted to plan for the upcoming CG meeting and will use the opportunity to advance the issues of child participation as well as policies that affect the well being of children and the need to involve children.

THE PEAP REVISION EXERCISE

• UCRNN is strategically placing itself to participate in the oncoming PEAP revision exercise. The poverty eradication plan – PEAP is a ten-year working government –document, which shows government strategy on the reduction of poverty. The current PEAP status is very limited as regards children's issues.
• UCRNN is therefore commissioning a consultancy to conduct an in depth analysis of the PEAP, identify gaps and make recommendations in the children's perspective. The consultancy is planned to involve wide consultations with key stakeholders working with children and independent consultations with children themselves. UCRNN is on the interim committee to bring on board children's issues and spearheading the subject of children in armed conflict as well.
• UCRNN is also on the Save UK/UNICEF Funded committee to analyse the PEAP in relation to the outcome document (world fit for children)

UCRNN's involvement in the PEAP exercise is a major avenue for ensuring that children's rights are met in the general policy, resource allocation and legislative environment.

ADVOCACY FOR THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN IN CONFLICT SITUATION

• In January 2002, representatives of about 40 civil society organisation and representatives of the donor community came together to discuss issues relating to the conflict in the north with a specific focus of examining issues relating to the conflict in Acholi land and to build consensus on future collaborative advocacy initiatives. UCRNN took part in the meeting and was selected to be on the steering committee.
• UCRNN is currently hosting the activities of the coalition 'Civil Society Organisations for Peace in Northern Uganda' (CSOPNU), created during the follow up meeting held on May 26th at Speke resort in Munyonyo.
• So far (CSOPNU), produced a newspaper pullout with a statement on the situation on Northern Uganda.
• Met with 35 heads of missions to discuss the conflict situation in the North in which they proposed to come out with a statement on Northern Uganda.
• Because of its identification with the conflict situation, UCRNN will be spearheading the presentation for the situation in Northern Uganda in the upcoming CG.
• UCRNN has also enabled member organisations and other stakeholders to join in the conflict issue.

UCRNN's participation in the CSOPNU has provided a channel through which we can advocate for children in conflict areas. We do encourage member organisations who have a stake in the issue to come forth and be part of CSOPNU.

NETWORKING

One of UCRNN s objectives is to enhance existing efforts and joint initiatives in promoting children's rights in Uganda. In an effort to accomplish this UCRNN has endeavored to involve its members in the many national and NGO development initiatives that have taken place. These have included:

• A conference on Child Sexual Abuse organized by the British Council in March this year in which 30 member organisations were trained/sensitized on CSA.
• The PEAP training in which some members of UCRNN were trained in the collection of views for the exercise.
• CSNOPU in which member organsations have been brought together to advocate for the conflict situation in the North.
• The Alternative reporting process in which member organisations have participated in preparatory workshops and the research exercise.
• Open space meeting organised by the Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development in which views on child sexual abuse have been discussed.

We look forward to even more committed involvement by membership in other network activities.

CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW PROCESS

It is evident that inspite of the good policies that Uganda has instituted since 1996, many gaps still exist in the policy and legal framework as regards child rights, responsibilities and obligations. As child focused actors it is our duty to see that such gaps are considered and well addressed by the appropriate authorities.

UCRNN is therefore planning to participate in the ongoing National Constitutional Review process. A consultancy to undertake a critical analysis of the child rights documents vis-avis the constitution is being commissioned by the network to identify gaps that will go into compiling a memorandum for presentation to the commission. Consultative workshops will be held in the four regions of the country to gather views from members that will be included in this memorandum. The first consultative workshop is taking place in Mbale on the 26th – 28th November 2002.

Last month, in response to our appeal for your views on the ongoing National Constitutional Review process, Feed The Children, Uganda sent us a feedback on the initiative it has so far taken along this line. Feed the children has already made a presentation to the commission on the issue of child representation in parliament and the implementation of the convention in the constitution. We think is a pertinent issue that we can advocate for as a network.

Feed the Children's response is a great encouragement to our efforts and we still encourage the rest of you to send in your views for consideration.

ALTERNATIVE REPORTING PROCESS

• Established in 1997, UCRNN has been at the forefront of advocating for the observance of child rights in Uganda and for the establishment of a legal framework to guide the implementation of programmes for children. In line with its objective of monitoring the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UCRNN prepares and submits an NGO report known as the Alternate Report to the Geneva committee based on Governments initial report.
• UCRNN is in the process of developing the second Alternative report and consultations with member organisations and stakeholders are going on countrywide. The exercise is being taken forward by two consultants with the support of an advisory committee. The exercise started in July with an inception workshop to enlighten major stakeholders into the process and take on their views. During the workshop it was agreed to have member organisations participate in the exercise to cover as many areas as possible and allow for grass root representation.
• A draft report is expected on the 3rd of November this year and the exercise expected to end in December.

The alternative report provides a basis for advocacy with government and establishment of programmes.

UCRNN DEVELOPMENT WORKER

UCRNN in September acquired a new member of staff, Kerstin Nordmann. She is a social pedagogue/ social worker and worked in Germany for different NGOs, governmental and private institutions as counsellor, trainer and co-ordinator. She is employed by the German Development Service (DED) and has been working in Uganda as technical advisor since July 2000.

We welcome Kerstin on board!

TOLL FREE LINE

• UCRNN on 4th September 2002 officially launched the much awaited toll free line. The toll free line will enable the extension of psychosocial support services to sexually abused children and the wider community at large.
• The toll free line was an offer, made to Uganda Children Rights NGO Network by management of CELTEL Uganda LTD during the week to mark the Day of the African Child in June.
• Hope After Rape (HAR) a member of UCRNN will be hosting the toll free line.
• The Help Line is free of charge for all Celtel users and will be available between 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday on the number 075-201.
• Hope after Rape can be reached on the following line for routine calls: 041-251201

WEBSITE

As part of the strategy to strengthen information sharing and links within and without members, UCRNN has tentatively acquired, courtesy of Kampala City Guide, an internet web page. The web page currently contains the UCRNN brochure, a database of members, a child sexual abuse pullout recently published in the New Vision, information about the staff, guestbook and links. We encourage you to keep a close tab on the page for updates on the networks activities - and please sign our guestbook when you check in!

MEMBERS FEE

In August this year communication was sent reminding members of subscription and members obligations to the network. Unfortunately only nine organisations have responded We would like to extend our thanks to the following organisations that have met this commitment. These include:

1. ECWA, Entebbe
2. Nacwola, Arua
3. SMAU, Wakiso
4. Hope after Rape, Kampala
5. GOAL, Kampala
6. Concerned parents association (CPA) Lira
7. International Care and Relief (ICR) Kampala
8. Action against child abuse and neglect (AACAN) Soroti
9. AFREP, Kasese

We urge the rest of you who have not met this commitment to do so to enable us meet our costs of generating information.

Membership fee may be paid in cash or cheque at the UCRNN secretariat.

Information for new members:

Membership is open to indigenous, regional and international organizations, legally registered as NGOs in Uganda and are involved in or subscribe to child right issues.

UCRNN Fees:

	International Agency	National Agency	CBOs
Membership Fees (once)	150 000/=	50 000/=	20 000/=
Annual Subscription Fees	50 000/=	30 000/=	10 000/=