Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Government Strategies and Responsibilities

In this activity, you will:

 Explore what Government’s OVC strategies and responsibilities are

Facilitator’s notes:

The rights of orphans and vulnerable children encompass both children’s rights and general human

rights. This activity will help to outline what is being done in your country around children’s rights.

Although there are many policies and programmes aimed at improving the general well-being of

children, a significant number are still not able to fully access, participate in and benefit from these

initiatives on a sustainable basis. There are high levels of orphanhood, abuse, exploitation,

discrimination, displacement and conflicts that leave many children vulnerable.

In this activity, you will get participants to view government’s record on children’s rights in the following

eight government service areas (as outlined on Handout 1): Child Welfare (care and support),

Child Safety and Protection, Education, Health, Psychosocial Support, Socio-economic Support (child-

care grants), Legal Aid and Representation; and Social Development (vocational or life skills training).

Activity 2

What has your government done to give children their rights?

For inputs here, you will need to research your country’s child rights policies.

In Uganda, for example:

 The rights of the child have been put in the Constitution.

 The Children Statute was accepted by parliament in 1997. There is now a secretary

for children in the Local Council system who is tasked to protect children’s rights.

 More children can now go to school because of Universal Primary Education (UPE).

 There is immunisation of children against the six killer diseases.

 The government raises awareness in the community about children’s rights.

 The National Council for Children was established to make sure that everything is

done to enable children to enjoy their rights.

What more does a government need to do for children? It needs to:

 Listen to children and take their views and opinions seriously.

 Provide more money for the needs of children.

 Make sure that more children enjoy their right to life. At present, there are many

children who die before they reach one year; and many more die before they reach

five years old.

 Make sure that children and adults know the rights of the child and put them into

practise, for example ensuring the care and protection of children.

 Help families to get out of poverty, since poor families are unable to provide

sufficiently for the needs of their children.

(^116) Unit 2, Module 1 Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children