The family and promotion of children's rights : a study of Kisubi Parish (Wakiso District) and Kibingo Parish (Mbarara District)

Abstract

The study set to establish the family roles in the promotion of children's right to education and freedom of expression. These rights stem from the family and the family has a lot to do to enable these rights to be enjoyed by all family members especially the children. A comparative analysis of Kisubi Parish of Wakiso District representing the urban setting and Kibingo Parish of Mbarara District representing the rural setting was done. Seventy (70) parents and seventy (70) children participated in this study. These were chosen using simple random sampling. Questionnaires for parents and children were used to collect data. The data was analyzed to compute frequencies and percentages. Forty key informants were interviewed and other data was presented verbatim. The research findings indicated that both parents and children have knowledge of children's rights; the parents supported their children's rights to education and freedom of expression with the urban parents taking the lead. However, the punishments parents administer to their children inhibit the children's rights. It was observed that there is awareness of children's rights in both rural and urban settings, however conditions in the rural setting might hinder parents promotion of children's rights. There is good parent-child relationship in both rural and urban settings and reward and punishments are used in both settings. It was recommended that human rights promotion sensitization programmes should be carried out to ensure that parents get to understand fully the values and benefits accruing to children's rights to education and freedom of expression. It was further noted that parents need to be courageous enough to discuss with their children --- but tactfully as possible­--sensitive but topical matters like sex, relationships, death and cultural taboos. Parents should also develop a relationship of trust with the children in order to be able to offer guidance and counseling. This parent- child closeness will help parents to understand their children better and vice versa.