Last month marked the official launch of our Right 2 Change (R2C) project in Patongo, Northern Uganda. The four year initiative, funded by Comic Relief, aims to support children affected by two decades of conflict and who have become particularly vulnerable to entering in conflict with the law. In a context where children might be arrested for stealing food or getting into a fight, our project works to ensure the rights of children are respected at all times, and those responsible for petty crimes are diverted away from detention and into education and training.
With the combined efforts of our in-country partner, Passion for Community (P4C), as well as the Ugandan Law Society, the R2C project will directly support over 1,200 children to access vocational trainings as part of a rehabilitation package that addresses the root cause of anti-social behaviours: poverty. We will also be working closely with local magistrates and the police to ensure protection and child-friendly standards are at all stages of the juvenile justice system. Right 2 Change exists to make sure that those who have been accused of crime commitment are treated fairly as children and are given a chance to reintegrate back into their society; they should not face discrimination and stigma when they return to their families and communities, but maintain healthy productive young lives!
