The Refugee Law Project (RLP) has released a report on child protection issues among refugees and nationals in western Uganda. RLP Working Paper 13: Child Protection in the Context of Displacement, funded by Save the Children in Uganda (SCiU), details education, health and child abuse concerns in Ntoroko County, Bundibugyo District.

Building on past research presented in RLP Working Paper 10: Displacement in Bundibugyo District: A Situation Analysis, the new report shows how conflict, displacement and poverty in western Uganda and neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have contributed to very difficult living conditions for children in Ntoroko County. While all children face child protection issues in this context, refugee children encounter additional challenges because of language barriers, lack of social support structures and discrimination.

Research findings reveal major barriers to accessing quality education for children in Ntoroko County, particularly for girls and Congolese children. Malaria, cough, worms and cholera are the main health issues facing children, due primarily to poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water. Child abuse, neglect, rape and defilement are widespread in the county, but response from local authorities has been inadequate, contributing to a culture of impunity.