Northern Uganda has suffered chronic war for the last two decades with massive violations of the population’s human rights. The conflict in northern Uganda has had its most terrifying impact on children. As many as 66,000 children have been abducted by the Lords Resistance Army (LRA), wrenched from their families and forced to become soldiers and sex slaves. Until recently, tens of thousands of child “night commuters” walked miles each day and night in search of a place to sleep safe from the rebels. Although the regional is currently in a recovery process from the war, the spill over of the war and related impact have continued to affect children in northern Uganda, making them prone to abuse.

The war has attracted a number of humanitarian agencies who have responded to Care and Protection of Children. UNICEF, Save the Children, Christian Children Fund, International Rescue Committee have been caring and protecting children in northern Uganda in partnership with other local agencies including Local Government, Religious institutions, Cultural institutions and Community Based Organizations. Child Protection working committees have been established in Northern Uganda by the above agencies to share information and learning from each other on how best to provide care and protection of children.

Apart from child protection working group monthly reporting and planning meetings, there has not been a forum involving a number of stakeholders to dialogue and discuss issues of Care and Protection of Children. The Program Learning Group Network on Care and Protection of Children has been established in Northern Uganda to strengthen and systematize Care and Protection through the collaborative action of humanitarian organizations, local institutions, and academic partners.

The Care and Protection of Children Program Learning Group Network (CPC- PLG Network) was launched in Northern Uganda in September 2008. The Program Learning Group Network on Care and Protection of Children in Northern Uganda will provide a forum for an in depth discussion of critical issues pertinent to agencies engaged in Care and Protection of children. Special attention will be put at establishing thematic forum to dialogue on specific Care and Protection of Children issues as well as coordinating Global Technical support to agencies on how to overcome such issues.

The PLG will also aim at localizing global Child Protection frameworks relevant to local realities. Much as a number of child protection frameworks are designed on the basis of global realities, the thrust of PLG in northern Uganda is to re-think and generate development alternatives that arise from the local contexts to inform the design of child protection practices, approaches and definitions.

To contribute to realizing its goal, CPC-PLG network in Northern Uganda proposes the following strategies:

1. Action research in partnership with academic institutions, cultural and religious institutions as well as child focused agencies to unpack perceptions, local realities and cultural appropriate approaches to Care and Protection of Children. PLG will specifically engage cultural and religious institutions not only to create a conducive environment for Care and Protection of Children but also to offer culturally appropriate care and child protection frameworks.
2. As a means to sharing information, a regional resource centre will be established and equipped with information relevant to the needs of PLG members. The resource centre will be made accessible to the public and also PLG members.
3. Learning is imperative for members of PLG to deepen their worldview as care and child protection agencies. To maximize learning and sharing of information and dialogue of critical issues, four Program Learning Groups will be formed at sub regional levels (Gulu, Kitgum, Pader, Lira and later Soroti and West Nile). At each of the sub regional levels, thematic forums (comprised of cultural leaders, Youth leaders, Children groups and Child Focused Agencies) will be constituted to dialogue of Care and Protection of Children. These will meet monthly in their respective sub regions. Critical issues and resolutions of each thematic forum will constitute the agenda for a Regional PLG that will convene on a quarterly basis.

Specific Objectives

1. Develop and build a body of knowledge of Care and Protection of Children, Child Protection frameworks during conflict and post conflict situations with the aim of identifying agencies experiences that can be shared globally.
2. New knowledge and alternative approaches to Care and Protection of Children, generated, updated and disseminated to influence the policy and practice of agencies involved in Care and Protection of Children.
3. Develop and strengthen Program Learning Groups at sub regional Level to continuously dialogue and develop a common stand on Care and Protection of Children.