Sexual exploitation of refugees in Uganda: Difference between revisions

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Sexual exploitation is frequently experienced by refugees who have fled to Uganda from neighbouring countries.

Overview

Uganda has over 234,000 refugees and 65 percent are from Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.^[1] The other refugees in Uganda come from Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi, and Rwanda.^[2]

Overall situation

Some of the refugees in Ugandan camps are sexually harassed and beaten. These include mostly women, girls and few boys who are between the ages of 14 and 25. These harassments happen across the different refugee settlements in Uganda. A survey conducted by Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme (PADEAP) in 2012 under the country director Michael Mafabi revealed that 70% of the women experienced one form of violence, more so with about 45% of them being sexually abused.^[1] According to Mafabi, the victims rarely report these incidents because the culprits have power over them.^[1] These culprits are the people who provide relief to these refugees. Also, Mafabi indicates that when some of these victims go to report, they are harassed in exchange for services.^[1]

Causes

Debanjana Choudhuri who visited one of the camps in Uganda has reported that according to the data she obtained, girls frequently experience coerced sexual initiation, which they view as a normal form of relationship.^[3] Another source mentioned that culture and religion influence refugees to be victims of abuse and the fact that they fear to be embarrassed if they say anything against what they are experiencing.^[4]

Culprits

The culprits are a secretive network of pimps operating in Uganda. The group mostly spread information about their business through word of mouth. They have been advertising refugee women and girls to buyers, some of whom are high-ranking government officials.^[5]

Victims

One of the victims of sexual harassment is a girl who fled from South Sudan camp after being raped, only to be raped again in Ugandan camps. She explained that she lives alone and she gets scared when men come to her area at night. According to the source, there is nothing much she could have done to prevent herself from being raped because she lives in a tent that does not have a door. Other girls who had similar experiences stated that they also live in fear of being attacked by men.^[6]

Refugee camps/settlements in Uganda

List of Refugee settlements in Uganda

Combating

United Nations officials have urged Uganda to investigate allegations of human trafficking and corruption in the refugee camps.^[7] The UN resident in Uganda, Rosa Malango, claimed that she had written to the government about allegations including corruption, fraud, trafficking of women and girls, intimidation and harassment of UN personnel.^[7] She also claimed that the Ugandan government authorities had made promises to investigate cases, and made it clear that she saw it as her own duty to press for prompt action on any indications of sexual abuse or exploitation.^[7] She added that the UN refugee agency and the World Food Programme were carrying out internal audits of their Uganda operations in order to monitor the allegations of corruption.^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "Refugee women in Uganda suffer sex abuse". Retrieved 20 April 2018.
^ "Refugees in Uganda". Retrieved 24 April 2018.
^ Choudhuri, Debanjana. "My Visit To A Ugandan Refugee Camp: Tackling Gender-Based Violence And HIV".
^ Jeff and Dennis, Lule and Dibele. "Refugee women and children in different settlements around the country, continue to be exposed to sexual abuse, allegedly by some humanitarian service providers and security officials".
^ "Sex Scandal: Underage Refugee Girls Forced Into Prostitution in Uganda, Report Reveals". news week. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
^ "Girls flee sexual violence in South Sudan only to be raped again in refugee camp".
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d "UN urges Uganda to probe refugee trafficking, corruption". Retrieved 20 April 2018.

External links

Gallery

South Sudanese Take Refuge in Uganda
Ugandan children
Tailor Lebuje camp, Uganda

[auto-1] "Refugee women in Uganda suffer sex abuse". Retrieved 20 April 2018.

[2] "Refugees in Uganda". Retrieved 24 April 2018.

[3] Choudhuri, Debanjana. "My Visit To A Ugandan Refugee Camp: Tackling Gender-Based Violence And HIV".

[4] Jeff and Dennis, Lule and Dibele. "Refugee women and children in different settlements around the country, continue to be exposed to sexual abuse, allegedly by some humanitarian service providers and security officials".

[5] "Sex Scandal: Underage Refugee Girls Forced Into Prostitution in Uganda, Report Reveals". news week. Retrieved 24 April 2018.

[6] "Girls flee sexual violence in South Sudan only to be raped again in refugee camp".

[auto2-7] "UN urges Uganda to probe refugee trafficking, corruption". Retrieved 20 April 2018.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{mi|
-{{lead missing|date=June 2018}}
-{{orphan|date=June 2018}}
-}}
 {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
 {{slavery|expanded=Contemporary}}
 {{Violence against women}}
+[[Sexual exploitation]] is frequently experienced by [[refugee]]s who have fled to Uganda from neighbouring countries.
 ==Overview==
-[[Uganda]] has over 234,000 refugees and 65 percent are from [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] and [[South Sudan]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Refugee women in Uganda suffer sex abuse''|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1335355/refugee-women-uganda-suffer-sex-abuse|accessdate=20 April 2018}}</ref>
+[[Uganda]] has over 234,000 refugees and 65 percent are from [[Democratic Republic of Congo]] and [[South Sudan]].<ref name="auto">{{cite news|title=Refugee women in Uganda suffer sex abuse|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1335355/refugee-women-uganda-suffer-sex-abuse|accessdate=20 April 2018}}</ref>
 The other refugees in Uganda come from [[Ethiopia]], [[Somalia]], [[Eritrea]], [[Burundi]], and [[Rwanda]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Refugees in Uganda|url=http://www.refugeandhope.org/refugees-in-Uganda|accessdate=24 April 2018}}</ref>
 ==Overall situation==
-Some of the refugees in [[Ugandan]] camps are sexually harassed and beaten. These include mostly women, girls and few boys who are between the ages of 14 and 25. These harassments happen across the different refugee settlements in [[Uganda]]. These are sexually harassed and beaten. A survey conducted by Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme (PADEAP) in 2012 under the country director; Michael Mafabi revealed that 70% of the women experienced one form of violence, more so with about 45% of them being sexually abused.<ref name="auto"/>
+Some of the refugees in [[Ugandan]] camps are sexually harassed and beaten. These include mostly women, girls and few boys who are between the ages of 14 and 25. These harassments happen across the different refugee settlements in [[Uganda]]. A survey conducted by Pan African Development Education and Advocacy Programme (PADEAP) in 2012 under the country director Michael Mafabi revealed that 70% of the women experienced one form of violence, more so with about 45% of them being sexually abused.<ref name="auto"/>
-According to Mafabi, the victims rarely report these incidences because the culprits have power over them.<ref name="auto"/>
+According to Mafabi, the victims rarely report these incidents because the culprits have power over them.<ref name="auto"/>
 These culprits are the people who provide relief to these refugees. Also, Mafabi indicates that when some of these victims go to report, they are harassed in exchange for services.<ref name="auto"/>
 ==Causes==
-Debanjana Choudhuri who visited one of the camps in [[Uganda]] has reported that according to the data she got, girls frequently experience coerced sexual initiation which they view it as a normal form of relationships.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Choudhuri|first1=Debanjana|title=My Visit To A Ugandan Refugee Camp: Tackling Gender-Based Violence And HIV|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/debanjana-choudhuri/tackling-sgbv-and-hiv-in-_b_8174562.html}}</ref> Another source mentioned that culture and religion influence refugees to be victims of abuse and the fact that they fear to be embarrassed if they say anything against what they are experiencing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeff and Dennis|first1=Lule and  Dibele|title=Refugee  women and children in different settlements around the country, continue to be exposed to sexual abuse, allegedly by some humanitarian service providers and security officials.|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1335355/refugee-women-uganda-suffer-sex-abuse}}</ref>
+Debanjana Choudhuri who visited one of the camps in [[Uganda]] has reported that according to the data she obtained, girls frequently experience coerced sexual initiation, which they view as a normal form of relationship.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Choudhuri|first1=Debanjana|title=My Visit To A Ugandan Refugee Camp: Tackling Gender-Based Violence And HIV|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.in/debanjana-choudhuri/tackling-sgbv-and-hiv-in-_b_8174562.html}}</ref> Another source mentioned that culture and religion influence refugees to be victims of abuse and the fact that they fear to be embarrassed if they say anything against what they are experiencing.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jeff and Dennis|first1=Lule and Dibele|title=Refugee women and children in different settlements around the country, continue to be exposed to sexual abuse, allegedly by some humanitarian service providers and security officials.|url=https://www.newvision.co.ug/new_vision/news/1335355/refugee-women-uganda-suffer-sex-abuse}}</ref>
 ==Culprits==
-The culprits are a secretive network of pimps operating in [[Uganda]]. The group mostly spread information about their business through word of mouth. They have been advertising refugee women and girls to buyers, some of whom are high-ranking government officials.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sex Scandal: Underage Refugee Girls Forced Into Prostitution in Uganda, Report Reveals|url=http://www.newsweek.com/sex-scandal-underage-refugee-girls-forced-prostitution-uganda-report-reveals-861931|website=newsweek|accessdate=24 April 2018}}</ref>
+The culprits are a secretive network of pimps operating in [[Uganda]]. The group mostly spread information about their business through word of mouth. They have been advertising refugee women and girls to buyers, some of whom are high-ranking government officials.<ref>{{cite web| title =Sex Scandal: Underage Refugee Girls Forced Into Prostitution in Uganda, Report Reveals|url=http://www.newsweek.com/sex-scandal-underage-refugee-girls-forced-prostitution-uganda-report-reveals-861931|website=news week |accessdate=24 April 2018}}</ref>
 ==Victims==
-One of the victims of sexual harassment include a girl who flee from [[South Sudan]] camp after being raped , only to be raped again in Ugandan camps.
+One of the victims of sexual harassment is a girl who fled from [[South Sudan]] camp after being raped, only to be raped again in Ugandan camps.
-She explained that she lives alone and a lot of men come to her area at night and she gets scared. According to the source, there is nothing much she could have done to prevent herself from being raped because she lives in a tent that does not have a door.More other girls who experienced the same thing as the one form [[South Sudan]] claimed that they also live in fear of being attacked by men.<ref>{{cite web|title=Girls flee sexual violence in South Sudan only to be raped again in refugee camp|url=https://news.trust.org/item/20171004084050-y6bzq}}</ref>
+She explained that she lives alone and she gets scared when men come to her area at night. According to the source, there is nothing much she could have done to prevent herself from being raped because she lives in a tent that does not have a door. Other girls who had similar experiences stated that they also live in fear of being attacked by men.<ref>{{cite web|title=Girls flee sexual violence in South Sudan only to be raped again in refugee camp|url=https://news.trust.org/item/20171004084050-y6bzq}}</ref>
-==Refugee camps in Uganda==
+==Refugee camps/settlements in Uganda==
-*[[Achol-Pii Refugee Settlement]]
+*[[List of Refugee settlements in Uganda]]
-*[[Bidi Bidi Refugee Settlement]]
-*IMVEPI Refugee settlement<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|title=Testimonies from Imvepi Refugee Camp, Arua|url=http://www.nurtureafrica.ie/single-post/2017/12/11/Testimonies-from-Imvepi-Refugee-Camp-Arua|accessdate=24 April 2018}}</ref>
-*[[Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement]]
-*[[Kyaka II Refugee Settlement]]
-*[[Kyangwali Refugee Settlement]]
-*[[Nakivale Refugee Settlement]]
-*Palabek Refugee Settlement
-*Pagirinya Refugee Settlement<ref name="auto1"/>
-*[[Rhino Camp Refugee Settlement]]
-*[[Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement]]
 ==Combating==
-The United Nation's Officials told the Advance Family Planning that [[Uganda]] must investigate allegations of human trafficking and corruption in the refugees camps<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|title=UN urges Uganda to probe refugee trafficking, corruption|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/un-urges-uganda-probe-refugee-trafficking-corruption/|accessdate=20 April 2018}}</ref>. The UN resident in [[Uganda]] Rosa Malango claimed that she had written to the government about the allegations ranging from corruption to fraud and trafficking of women and girls to intimidation and harassment of UN personnel<ref name="auto2"/>. She also claimed that the Ugandan government authorities made promises to investigate cases that involve "the moment anybody raises anything that looks or smells like sexual exploitation or abuse I must demand for an immediate investigation, and I must demand for immediate action because we have zero tolerance.”<ref name="auto2"/> She added that the UN refugee agency and the World Foood Programme are making some internal audits of the Uganda operations in order to monitor the allegations of corruption.
+United Nations officials have urged Uganda to investigate allegations of human trafficking and corruption in the refugee camps.<ref name="auto2">{{cite news|title=UN urges Uganda to probe refugee trafficking, corruption|url=https://www.independent.co.ug/un-urges-uganda-probe-refugee-trafficking-corruption/|accessdate=20 April 2018}}</ref> The UN resident in [[Uganda]], Rosa Malango, claimed that she had written to the government about allegations including corruption, fraud, trafficking of women and girls, intimidation and harassment of UN personnel.<ref name="auto2"/> She also claimed that the Ugandan government authorities had made promises to investigate cases, and made it clear that she saw it as her own duty to press for prompt action on any indications of sexual abuse or exploitation.<ref name="auto2"/> She added that the [[UNHCR|UN refugee agency]] and the [[World Food Programme]] were carrying out internal audits of their Uganda operations in order to monitor the allegations of corruption.<ref name="auto2"/>
-<ref name="auto2"/>
 ==See also==
 *[[Sexual slavery]]
+*[[Refugees of Uganda]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 55: / Line 42: @@
 ==Gallery==
+<gallery mode="packed" heights="150px">
-[[File:South Sudanese Take Refuge in Uganda.webm|thumb|South Sudanese Take Refuge in Uganda]]
+File:South Sudanese Take Refuge in Uganda.webm|South Sudanese Take Refuge in Uganda
-[[File:Ugandan children.jpg|Ugandan children]]
+File:Ugandan children.jpg|Ugandan children
-[[File:Tailor Lebuje camp, Uganda.jpg|Tailor Lebuje camp, Uganda]]
+File:Tailor Lebuje camp, Uganda.jpg|Tailor Lebuje camp, Uganda
+</gallery>
-[[Category:Sexual abuse]]
+[[Category:Refugees in Uganda]]
-[[Category:Sexual abuse cover-ups]]
+[[Category:Sexual exploitation]]
-[[Category:Sexual harassment]]
+[[Category:Discrimination in Uganda]]
-[[Category:Refugees by country of resettlement]]
+[[Category:Violence against women in Uganda]]
-[[Category:Refugees by continent of resettlement]]
-[[Category:Refugee camps in Uganda]]