The Committee also recommends the multiplication of daycare centers for early
childhood (mentioned in the Report) in zones where girls are forced to stay at home
to look after the younger children.
Section 4: BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD
The Committee notes with satisfaction the recognition of the right to participation of
children, in particular, in the field of juvenile justice, by the Government of the
Republic of Uganda. However, it regrets that this right is not clearly recognized in the
national legal instruments. This poses some problems when taking into account the
best interests of the child and for the children to become more engaged on issues
affecting their survival and development.
The Committee recommends the State party to pursue the activities of GEM clubs
and the Sara Initiative; it encourages the promotion of the manual designed in
synergy by the Government, UNICEF, the civil society, in favor of children, on the
participation of children, with the establishment of a child representative leadership.
Article 6: NAME AND NATIONALITY
Even though article 18 of the Ugandan Constitution provides for the registration of
births, the Committee finds that the rate of births and deaths declarations is low.
The Committee recommends the State party to ensure that registration of children at
birth is mandatory and free. The Committee also urges the Government to raise the
awareness of local authorities and populations about the future consequences of the
non registration of children on the civil status registry.
The Committee further urges the Government to include the registration of births and
deaths, if it has not already done so, in the Investment Plan, the budgets of the
Justice and Law Enforcement Sectors, as wished for by the Recommendations of
the review of the justice sector.
Section 7: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The right to participation requires the actual presence and hearing of the children.
The committee notes significant progress made by the Government in the area of the
right to expression, which could have been otherwise presented in section 4-2 of the
Report, through weekly columns specially reserved for children and children
programs by children.
The Committee encourages the "Young Talk" (young people talk) and recommends
the continuation of the facilities granted to children in terms of access to media
freedom of speech, right of access to information, which are rights provided in the
constitution and which allow children to express their points of view, outside the
family boundaries.
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