62% of children living in displaced persons camps in northern Uganda are victims of sexual abuse, a new study by World Vision reports. The study, called "The Future in Our Hands," found that among Ugandan respondents: 13% were victims of improper kissing; 26% said they had either been touched on their breasts, buttocks or sexual parts; 8% said they had been forced to have sex; 13% said they had been penetrated by a finger or an object. Among these victims, 34% said they were compelled to have sex in exchange for basic needs. The study further found that perpetrators of these crimes are most commonly people known to the victim personally. The report also draws specific attention to perpetrators within the UPDF.

Army spokesman for northern Uganda, Lt Chris Magezi, responded: "People should stop insinuating that the UPDF is some sort of a monster; that when it shouts, people around are just quiet. The UPDF has a strict code of conduct and if any soldier commits a crime and a report is filed, we take punitive action. The World Vision guys are just lying, but we are ready to cooperate (in investigations) if there is a soldier who has committed a crime. The biggest sexual abusers in the camps are actually residents themselves, not the army." Read more at The Monitor.

A World Vision report has revealed that 62% of children in northern Ugandan IDP camps have been sexually abused. 34% of children surveyed reported that they were compelled to have sex in exchange for basic needs. Although the report’s findings were based on a small sample group, they are consistent with many other reports concerning sexual abuse in northern Ugandan IDP camps. The report highlights the chronic insecurity in the camps and failure of the Ugandan government to protect its northern citizens, especially women and girls, who are the victims of most instances of sexual violence. The World Vision report also draws attention to the role of Ugandan military forces in fueling prostitution in camps and coercing IDP women and girls into sexual relations. Read more at The Monitor.

UNICEF Uganda and its partners have put education in the spotlight this week with the launch of their ‘Go to school, back to school, stay in school’ campaign to help 1.3 million children get primary education in the country’s conflict-affected north and northeast. Eighty per cent of children there aged 7 to 18 have never been to school – a majority of them girls. "Low levels of primary school enrolment, retention and completion represent a basic violation of child rights and an urgent priority for action by all stakeholders," says UNICEF Representative in Uganda Keith McKenzie. "The immediate impact of low education levels on individual health, HIV/AIDS prevention and protection from various forms of neglect, abuse and exploitation is critical."

Save the Children has issued a new press release, expressing concern that, "with less than two weeks to go before the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement runs out in Uganda, the safety and security of Uganda’s children lies in the balance." They write, "As the deadline of February 28 approaches, both the Government of Uganda and the LRA are refusing to fully commit to further peace talks. Both sides must dedicate the political will and energy desperately needed to find a peaceful resolution." Save the Children urges "the international community to make clear to the Government of Uganda and the LRA that they will receive no international political support or allies should one or both sides return to war."

A recently-released World Development Report has confirmed an earlier "Survey of War Affected Youth" report that at least 66,000 youth have been forcibly recruited into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) over the course of the 20-year war. This is more than double the usual estimate of relief organizations. UNICEF, for example, has always put the number of children abducted by the LRA at 25,000. In addition, Save the Children put out a press statement last week saying that 10,000 Ugandan children are still unaccounted for, including 1,500 that are still believed to be held by the LRA. Read more at The New Vision.