UNICEF Condemns Actions Of Brutal Maid Violence Against Baby

Calls for Urgent action needed to end violence against children

UNICEF condemns the actions of a maid recorded to be brutally beating a one and half year old Ugandan child.
“The video of this baby being beaten is shocking,” says Aida Girma, UNICEF Uganda’s Representative. “Any such act of abuse and violence against children is completely unacceptable and a violation of every child’s fundamental right to be protected.”Ms. May Anyabolu, UNICEF Deputy Representative, Uganda

Around 3.5 million children between the ages of 6-17 – 32% of all 6-17 year olds – currently experience physical violence in Uganda today.

According to the international Committee on the Rights of the Child, physical violence is a form of “any punishment in which physical force is used and intended to cause some degree of pain or discomfort, however light. Mostly involves hitting (“smacking”, “slapping”, “spanking”) children, with the hand or with an implement like a whip, stick, belt, shoe, or wooden spoon. But it can also involve, for example, kicking, shaking or throwing children, scratching, pinching, biting, pulling hair or boxing ears, caning, forcing children to stay in uncomfortable positions, burning, scalding, or forced ingestion.”

UNICEF is calling for immediate action to be taken to prevent and respond to all current and future cases of violence against children in Uganda, particularly for:

1. The Children’s Amendment Act to be urgently passed;

2. Significant additional resources to be allocated to prevent and respond to all cases of violence against children in Uganda, and;

3. All people who know of such cases to report them to the Child Helpline SAUTI by dialling 116 so urgent action can be taken

“No child deserves to be hurt or mistreated in any way. We call on Government and all Ugandans to once and for all put an end to the atrocious violence too many children in Uganda continue to experience,” Girma emphasized.