Conflict In Uganda Forces Children Into War, Sex
Locals Help Save Kids
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By Lyanne Melendez
May 8 - In Uganda, a 20-year-old conflict has forced children into war and turned thousands into sex slaves. Few of us in the U.S. are aware of the crisis in Uganda. The American Red Cross is hoping to change that with a symposium featuring one of the world's most pre-eminent experts on children.
By the time they turn 13, some of the children in Uganda are already
war veterans.
Olara Otunnu, child advocate: "The worst place in the world today to be a child is northern Uganda."
Olara Otunnu is the former U.N. undersecretary for children and armed conflict. He's here to bring attention to the 20 year-old conflict in Uganda where children are taken by rebel forces and forced to fight.
They avoid being abducted by leaving their homes every night, walking
for miles until they find a place to sleep.
Silvestro Bakhiet is a political refugee living in the Bay Area.
Silvestro Bakhiet, political refugee: "They move from place to place. They don't have a place wherever they go their life is danger."
A recent documentary tells the story of the children of northern Uganda.
But the government of Uganda has also been accused of committing atrocities by putting people in concentration camps to prevent them from fighting. So these camps have become a one-stop-shop for all kinds of abuses from both the rebels and the government.
"The invoking of the rebels has simply been a pretext for the government to do its own project of genocide. While the rebels for their part attack the local population because they accuse them of collaborating without the government and not supporting them."
A week ago, hundreds of people in the Bay Area walked and spent a night
outside in solidarity with the children of Uganda.
Otunnu says people in the Bay Area can help.
Olara Otunnu, child advocate: "And whatever material support people can give is welcomed but the most important thing is action to end the genocide and to do so now."
You can help by contacting Friends For Peace in Africa or the local Bay Area chapter at (510) 467 - 4327 or send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED].
In the meantime, Mr. Otunnu will speak Tuesday in San Francisco on the topic of Uganda at the A.P. Gianini Auditorium at 555 Calfornia Street. The event starts at 3:30 p.m.
Copyright
2006, ABC7/KGO-TV/DT.
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