Promoting and Protecting Human Rights of Street Children in Juvenile Justice Systems: The Law and Practice in Uganda

ABSTRACT This study "Promoting and Protecting Human Rights of Street Children in Juvenile Justice Systems: The Law and Practice in Uganda was carried out with different organizations and agencies in Kampala with specific aims to identify the circumstances which give rise to the arrest of street children and the legalities taken into account to protect the rights of children as supported by the juvenile justice system; to investigate the challenges of human rights violations experienced by street children through the juvenile justice system and to suggest possible interventions to curb cases of human rights violations experienced by street children under the juvenile justice system in Uganda. To comprehend this, the study reviewed literature from various scholars on the specific aims as well as different laws from different countries that govern juveniles while brought to justice. The study findings indicated that, street children are arrested because they are found committing crimes, others stubbornly refuse to consent to have committed a particular crime and yet others are held in circumstances of prostitution. The law has tried to bring them to justice but they are unnecessary delays in trial, the facilities at the remand homes are also not adequate, moreover the judiciary is also not well facilitated. The study concluded that, street children have rights just like any other human beings which need to be observed. And with recommendations taken into account, policy reviews will help to put juveniles to fair justice.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ....................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ................................................................................................. iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... v

LIST OF STATUTES ....................................................................................................... vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................... viii

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTERONE ............................................................................................................... l

GENERAL INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 1

1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 1

1.1 Background of Street Children ............................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................ 8

1.3 Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................... 9

1.3.1 General Objective of the Study ............................................................................... 9

1.3 .2 Specific Objectives ................................................................................................. 9

1.4 Research Questions ............................................................................................... 10

1.5 Hypothesis of the Study ........................................................................................ 10

1.6 Scope of the Study ................................................................................................ 10

1. 7 Significance of the Study ...................................................................................... 11

1.8 Methodology ......................................................................................................... 11

1.9 Literature Review .................................................................................................. 13

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................... 0 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 29

CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM IN UGANDA29

2.1 The Law of Human Rights of Children ................................................................ 29

2.2 Efficacy of the r,aw of Human Rights of Children ............................................... 29

2.2.1 International Legislation ....................................................................................... 30

2.2.1.1 The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) ..................... 30

2.2.1.2 The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1999) ................... 31

2.2.1.3 The ILO Convention 138 and 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labor (1999) ... 32

2.2.2 Domestic Legislation ............................................................................................ 33

2.2.2.1 The Constitution of the Republic ofUganda (1995) ............................................ 33

2.2.2.2 The Children Act (2003) Cap 59 .......................................................................... 34

2.2.2.3 The Children Statute (1996) .................................................................................. 36

2.2.2.4 The Penal Code Act 1950 ..................................................................................... 36

2.2.2.5 The National Council for Children Act, 1996 ...................................................... 3 7

2.2.2.6 The Local Government Act (1997) ....................................................................... 37

2.2.2. 7 The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Policy (2004) .......................................... 38

2.2.2.8 The Witchcraft Act 1957 ...................................................................................... 38

2.2.2.9 The Child Labor Policy (2006) ............................................................................. 39

2.2.2.10:The Birth and Registration Act (1973) ................................................. 39

V

2.2.2.11 :The Trafficking in Persons Act (2008) ................................................ .39

2.2.2.12:The Employment Act 1997 .............................................................. 39

2.2.2.13:The Land Act ............................................................................ .40

2.3 Conclusion .......................................................................................................... .40

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................ 41

A CRITIQUE OF THE AVAILABLE SUPPORTIVE LEGAL INSTRUMENTS. 41

3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 41

3.2 A Critique of the Various Support Instruments .................................................... 41

3.3 Conclusion ............................................................................................................. 44

-,,CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................... 46

PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF THE RESEARCH FINDINGS ............ 46

4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 46

4.2 Circumstances which give rise to the arrest of street children .............................. 46

4.3 Legalities taken into account to protect the rights of street children according to the

juvenile justice system in Uganda ......................................................................... 51

4.4 Persistence of the Abuse of Human Rights of Street Children in the Presence of a

Juvenile Justice System ......................................................................................... 53

4.5 Solutions to Address Human Rights Concerns of Children Under Juvenile Justice

Systems ................................................................................................................. 55

4.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 56

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................ 58

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 58

5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 58

5.2 Conclusion ............................................................................................................ 58

5.3 Recommendations ................................................................................................. 59

REFERENCES ................................................................................................................. 62