Forced Child Labour during Armed Conflict in Northern Uganda: Implications for Post-

Conflict Reintegration

An ex-post Assessment and Ramifications for Reintegration

Eric Awich Ochen, Ph.D

Paper Presented at the regional symposium for child labour, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

March 20-21, 2014

Background

The conflict in Northern Uganda started in 1986 and lasted twenty years.

Active conflict ended in 2006 with the commencement of the Juba peace talk

While conflict resumed in 2009 with the declaration of operation lightning thunder, the theatre of the conflict shifted to Sudan, CAR and DR Congo

This paper addresses itself to forced child labour during the children captivity with the rebels.

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Conflict dynamics and children

The conflict fundamentally impacted northern Uganda(socially economically and politically)

It is estimated that up to 25000 children have been abducted at the conclusion of the conflict in 2006.

Child labour in the bush comprises children working in the bush domestic environs, performing pseudo domestic work

Carrying heavy luggage and performing tasks beyond their mental abilities

These tasks were gender segregated in some cases: the young girls and child mothers within the bush had to fight to defend their positions, procure food and fend off their enemies; as wives; mothers; child soldiers

While at home child labour (however hazardous) could be paid for; In the bush it was forced and limited opportunities for choice existed.

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Research questions

Do the general interventions carried out support long term recovery and development of young people who have been forced to do hazardous child work during conflict?

Is there any effort to assess the needs and situation of those that were physically maimed as a result of the tasks performed while in rebel captivity?

What have been the long term effects of inability/failure to address the mental and physical exposure the young people have been exposed to during conflict?

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Effects of Bush Child Labour on Children Children returning with physical and mental disability For some of the young people, the so called reconstructive

vocational training reminds them of their exposure in the bush

Moreover evaluation studies and research have indicated an ‘imposition mentality’ on resettlement interventions-are best interests of these young people fully considered?

What about the uniqueness of the experiences? Outcome? Failure of interventions to rehabilitate or

effectively integrate children and young people Emotional, Psychosocial (mental health), social and

economic needs remains unmet.

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Discussion and Conclusions

While most studies, reports and interventions have focused on how children are affected by the conflict from both a social, personal and economic point of view,

Little attention has been paid to the children experience of conflict as an hazardous child labour

The hazardous nature of children work in captivity has been recognized but not given due consideration conceptually and programmatically

Important to reflect on these issues to address their reintegration challenges sustainably.

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END OF PRESENTATION

THANKYOU FOR LISTENING

ASANTE SANA

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