The way forward
The current situation
The SAFe campaign that we launched in 2014, which was supported by over 30 organisations, was a great success and engaged thousands of individuals and organisations to help redirect their efforts away from orphanages and towards supporting families.
Since the 2014 campaign, there have been numerous milestones to address the situation of children in orphanages, including the following.
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2019 UNGA Resolution on the Rights of the Child
A new resolution on the Rights of The Child was adopted by the UN General Assembly in New York in December 2019, marking a landmark moment as the UN and all 193 members called for the end of orphanages;
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The Ugandan Children's Act Amendment 2016
The 2016 amendments to the Ugandan Children’s Act strengthen the provisions for children without parental care and also closed a loophole that was allowing children to removed from Uganda for adoption, which was increasing child trafficking.
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The National Child Policy for Uganda & Implementation Plan 2020
The National Child Policy for Uganda & Implementation Plan was officially launched by the Government of Uganda in 2020. The policy prioritises strengthening families and reducing institutional care.
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Increased awareness
Due to various advocacy efforts, there is increased awareness of the damage of orphanages on children and their families and communities through both Ugandan and international media reports.
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Families, not orphanages
More orphanages are repurposing and transitioning away from institutional care. Additionally, there has been an increase in foster care and community programs to support families and communities.
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A stronger child protection and care system in Uganda
There has been significant investment into strengthening the child protection and care system in Uganda, including the development of national foster care guidelines, case management tools, and alternative care panel guidelines.
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The Alternative Care Framework
The Ugandan government has established a dedicated Alternative Care department within the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to advance the roll-out of the Alternative Care Framework.
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The Uganda Child Helpline
The Uganda Child Helpline (116) has been strengthened and further rolled-out across the country, so that child protection issues and concerns can be reported and dealt with.
Key concerns
However, there are still too many orphanages in Uganda; churches, individuals, and donors from western countries are still supporting orphanages; mission trips and volunteers are continuing to visit (and sustain) orphanages in Uganda; there is still underinvestment in foster care, and many people are still attempting to circumvent the Ugandan laws to unethically adopt children from Uganda.
The SAFe 2021 campaign aims to build on the achievements and efforts being undertaken in Uganda by various stakeholders and advocates for:
1) The reduction and elimination of unnecessary orphanages in Uganda;
2) Further investment into community services to prevent unnecessary separation of families;
3) A moratorium on inter-country adoption.
A call to action
We believe we should be working together to strengthen local child welfare systems, to keep children with their families and in their local communities.
As an alliance, we call on organisations, churches, and individuals to do the following.
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Work within the system
Work with the Ugandan government and child protection experts to strengthen existing child protection systems and work within existing policy and legal frameworks.
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Support family-based care
Support the growing numbers of organisations working to keep families together, reintegrate children back with relatives, place children into families and close orphanages.
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Support a child-centered approach
Encourage and support the implementation of child-centered legislation and programs, and follow an informed approach to healthy childcare and child development.
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Show respect to children
Respect the individual needs and rights of all children and not use stigmatising and negative labels such as ‘orphan’.
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Redirect funding
Redirect funding away from orphanages to family strengthening, community projects, and towards family-based alternative care (foster care).
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Collaborate more
Increased collaboration between Ugandan, foreign governments, and international law enforcement bodies to investigate and prosecute those committing crimes against children in orphanages.
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Advocate against trips to orphanages
Advocate against volunteer and mission trip organisations sending volunteers and trips to orphanages.
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Investigate NGOs supporting illegal orphanages
Advocate for charity commissions / NGO boards in countries to investigate and suspend foreign charities / NGOs who are supporting illegal children’s homes in Uganda.
