Child Exploitation in Juba, South Sudan.docx.

114 Pages·2013·4.9 MB·English

Fall
08

Child Exploitation in Juba
A study on street children and child labour in Juba, South Sudan

C o n f i d e n t C h i l d r e n o u t o f C o n f l i c t
I n c o l l a b o r a t i o n w i t h t h e F r e n c h E m b a s s y , S o u t h S u d a n
Copyright ©Confident Children out of Conflict
Haley L. S. Wright, Lead Researcher and Author

All photography Copyright ©Bernard Henin Photography
http://bernardhenin.photoshelter.com/

First published September 2013

NOTE

This publication was commissioned by the French Embassy, however the contents
are the sole responsibility and views of Confident Children out of Conflict and can
in no way be taken to reflect the views of the French Embassy.

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Acknowledgements
Acronyms and abbreviations
CHAPTER 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 8
CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW & SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS 14
1/ CHILDREN WITHOUT APPROPRIATE CARE 14
2/ STREET CHILDREN 16
3/ MODERN SLAVERY 23
4/ CHILD LABOUR 24
5/ COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN 27
6/ CHILD MARRIAGE 28
7/ TRAFFICKING 29
8/ CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW 31
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 34
1/ RESEARCH OBJECTIVES 34
2/ RESEARCH APPROACH AND SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS 34
3/ RESEARCH APPROACH 35
4/ DATA COLLECTION 35
5/ TRAINING OF RESEARCH TEAM 37
6/ ORGANISATION OF FIELDWORK 38
7/ DATA PROCESSING AND VALIDATION OF DATA 39
8/ LIMITATIONS AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATION 40
CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS OF CHILD RESPONDENTS 41
1/ SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILD SAMPLE 42
2/ EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT OF CHILD SAMPLE 44
3/ SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF PARENTS OF CHILD SAMPLE 46
4/ CHILDREN WITHOUT APPROPRIATE CARE 50
5/ CHILD LABOUR 53
6/ HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKING CHILDREN 57
7/ COMMERCIAL SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF CHILDREN 60
8/ CHILDREN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW 64
CHAPTER 5: FINDINGS OF PARENTS, EMPLOYERS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT 67
1/ FINDINGS OF PARENT SAMPLE 68
2/ FINDINGS OF EMPLOYER SAMPLE 72
3/ FINDINGS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAMPLE 73
CHAPTER 6: CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAMMING IN JUBA 75
1/ UN AGENCIES 75
2/ INTERNATIONAL NGOS 76
3/ NATIONAL NGOS 78
4/ RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ACTION 80

REFERENCES 82
APPENDIX 85
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INTRODUCTION
S

This report reflects the findings of action research regarding child exploitation in South Sudan, which
was carried out between January and March 2013. The French Embassy commissioned Confident
Children out of Conflict to conduct this study and subsequent report. The research conducted in Juba
City Council forms part of a multi-country study conducted in Sudan, South Sudan, the Central African
Republic and Chad.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research team is grateful for all of the children that participated in the study, as well as the parents
and key informants who contributed directly or indirectly to the research. In particular we would like to
acknowledge Anagha Joshi at International Organization for Migration for providing us with trafficking
case details and Bernard Henin for use of his poignant photography in this report.

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ACRONYMS & ABBREVIATIONS

CCC Confident Children out of Conflict
CES Central Equatoria State
CPA Comprehensive Peace Agreement
CRC Convention on the Rights of the Child
CSEC Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children
EES Eastern Equatoria State
EMDH Children of the World Human Rights
FTR Family Tracing and Reunification
GBV Gender Based Violence
GRSS Government of the Republic of South Sudan
HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
IDP Internally Displaced Persons
ILO International Labour Organization
IOM International Organisation for Migration
IPCS Institute for Promotion of Civil Society
JCCP Japan Center for Conflict Prevention
INGO International Non-Governmental Organisation
NGO Non-Governmental Organisation
NNGO National Non-Governmental Organization
Palermo Protocol UN Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons
PTSD Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
RoSS Republic of South Sudan
SIHA Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa
SPLA Sudan People’s Liberation Army
STI Sexually Transmitted Infection
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
WFCL Worst Forms of Child Labour

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CHAPTER 1: Executive summary

Rapid urbanization and a breakdown of the family and community support mechanisms in the Republic
of South Sudan’s capitol, Juba, has led to increased vulnerability for children and a rise in child
exploitation. Furthermore, resources in South Sudan are limited for child protection programming
because they are channeled into humanitarian crises, which primarily revolve around the needs of
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), refugees, returnees and the country’s most food insecure. This
report analysess the findings of action research carried out in Juba between February and March 2013.
There is significant evidence that children are victims of child labor, commercial sexual exploitation,
trafficking and harsh treatment by law enforcement officials. The purpose of this report is to form a
baseline for the French Embassy to develop a child protection strategy for South Sudan.

STREET CHILDREN IN JUBA

The term ‘street child’ has many different definitions. Broadly speaking, three categories of street
children exist, as follows: children of the street, children on the street and children that are part of a
street family. Although some may consider these definitions too rigid, in Juba they provide an effective
way to categorise the majority of children living or migrating to the street for programmatic purposes.
The United Nations (UN) defines the term street child to include “any boy or girl…for whom the street in
the widest sense of the word… has become his or her habitual abode and/or source of livelihood and
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who is inadequately protected, supervised, or directed by responsible adults.” Whether a child
considers him or herself to be a street child and therefore whether he or she is quantified as such in a
survey of this kind, depends on a variety of factors. For example, a child who lives in a slum area that a
researcher would typically consider to be ‘on the street’ with one or more of his or her parents or close
relatives may not personally identify him or herself as a street child. Thus, a researcher must not only
listen to a child’s account but also observe and analyse his or her living situation in conjunction with that
account.

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It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 children living and working on Juba’s streets, children
who lack parental care or, where parents and extended family are present in a child’s life, caretakers are
unable to support children financially or meet even their basic needs. Of the entire sample of 370
children living on the street, 161 (43.5%) provided details about their living circumstances. The sample
captured 211 boys (57%) and 159 (43%) girls between the ages of 5 and 17. The majority of child
respondents were between the ages of 10 and 17, however 59 children below age 10 also participated.
The study represented 24 tribes, with the majority of children from the Mundari and Bari tribes, which
demonstrates little change from previous surveys on street children. However, a rise in the number of
Dinka children rose significantly. Though the overwhelming majority of children in the study were South
Sudanese, the study also features Ugandan, Congolese and Kenyan respondents. Street children in this
study live primary in Juba’s largest markets, including Konyo Konyo, Gumbo, Jebel, and Custom as well
as residential and trading areas, with concentrations in Salakana, Gudele, Juba Nabari, St. Mary and Juba
Town. Most street children migrate between areas and often sleep in multiple places in a given week.
The majority of children (56%) reported living on the street alone while a smaller number (27.4%) lived
with their parent(s). As many as 10% of street girls reported living in brothels and even fewer lived with
relatives, grandparents or a spouse in a street situation. Children primarily migrated to the street on

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UNODC, Egypt Street Children Report, 2000. Available at:
http://www.unodc.org/pdf/youthnet/egypt_street_children_report.pdf
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Globa l Street Samaritan, Survey on Street Children in Juba, 2013
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their own or with their friends (70.2%), while a small number were brought to the street by their
parents or with a sibling (25.7%). Only a very small percentage (4.1%) were brought by an adult non-
relative of the child. Children brought by an adult non-relative could indicate trafficking, though the
children’s testimony did not specify this. The average time a child had spent living on the street was one
to two years with some children reportedly being on the street for as long as a decade. More than half
(59%) of these children either migrated from the village to the street in Juba or started migrating to the
street from within Juba in search of work. Other push and pull factors specified included children being
orphaned (7.5%), returning from Sudan (6.8%), searching for food (6.8%), parental neglect and/or abuse
(5.6%), having their home demolished (5%) and/or the influence of friends (2.5%). Less common push
factors included running away from home (1.9%), being forced to work by his or her parents (1.9%),
initially migrating to Juba for studies (1.2%), to work in prostitution (1.2%) and/or poor health (0.6%).

The link between street children and children in conflict with the law

Street children often come into contact with the justice system in Juba. This study attempted to learn
the dynamics between street children and police officers, particularly the nature of the interactions
between these two groups and the general perception children have regarding police officers as a result
of these interactions. The overwhelming majority of children refused to answer questions about the
interactions they or their friends have had with the police, citing they were afraid that there would be
repercussions if they did. Widespread abuse by the police was documented, primarily in the form of
arbitrary beatings and theft of street boys and sexual abuse by street girls engaged in Commercial
Sexual Exploitation. Often children disclosed information about their friends’ experiences with the
justice system but refused to describe their own, even when arrests or beatings were initially disclosed.
Fifty-six children reported that they or one or more of their friends had been arrested. Only 49 children
reported the cause of arrest, the majority of which were as a result of theft (57.1%), followed by fighting
(26.5%), ‘moving at night’ (6.1%), prostitution (6.1%) or for an unspecified reason (4.1%). The study
allowed for children to use their own words (as opposed to set responses) to describe both the outcome
of reported arrests and how the police generally treat him or her. Children reported the following as
outcomes of being arrested: ‘beaten’, ‘beaten severely’, ‘beaten and imprisoned’ and ‘tortured’ (43%).
Just over 14% were imprisoned, 6.1% were arrested and released, 4% were either sentenced or
currently serving time and the outcome was unknown for over 32% of children. Fifty-eight children were
willing to describe the treatment they received by police. The majority reported that they were beaten
(41.4%) while a significant number reported fair treatment (25.9%). Other children reported general
‘abuse’ (15.5%) and torture (5.2%) and girls were reportedly raped (5.2%). A small number reported
harassment (3.4%) or did not respond (3.4%). Exploitative interaction with the police reportedly drives
street children to alternate where they sleep at night so they cannot be found or harassed by the police.
This increases a child’s vulnerability as they typically separate from their peer group support mechanism
in order to avoid negative interaction with the police.

Health and Safety of Street Children

Street children have little to no access to basic health care and are often refused treatment at clinics
and the Juba Teaching Hospital. One hospital in Juba, the Usuratuna Children’s Hospital, however,
provided excellent care for two street children during the time this study was being conducted. Children
reported the types of health conditions they experienced in the last 12-month period. The majority of
children reported experiencing stomach problems/diarrhea, superficial injuries or open wounds and
fever. Children also experienced burns, corrosions and scalds (4.6%), skin problems (4.6%), breathing
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problems (3.5%), eye problems (2.7%), dislocations or sprains (2.2%), extreme fatigue (1.9%), fractures
(1.6%), other (0.8%) or did not respond (15.7%). The study also aimed to capture the prevalence of
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and the prevalence and awareness of Human Immunodeficiency
Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). It is important to note that due to the
sensitive nature of these questions it is expected the data is likely conservative, which was reflected in
part by a low response rate. Additionally, these questions were asked only of children over the age of
twelve. More than one third (34.5%) of respondents chose not to answer the questions while more than
half (54.1%) said neither they nor their friends had suffered from an STI. Only 11.4% of respondents
answered that they or a friend has or had a STI. Similarly, many children chose not to respond to
questions regarding prevalence and awareness of HIV/AIDS. Of the children who responded to a
question about how HIV/AIDS is transmitted, only 41.4% were aware that it is frequently sexually
transmitted. As a result more than half (60.1%) of the respondents said they did not k now how to
protect themselves from HIV/AIDS, though 36% cited condoms and 3.9% cited abstinence. Male children
typically displayed a greater knowledge and awareness of STIs and HIV/AIDS than girls. In one
community of street boys that had participated in H IV/AIDS awareness sessions with an International
Non-governmental Organisation (INGO) 100% knew how HIV/AIDS was transmitted and what behaviors
reduced their risk of contracting the disease.

Street children in an urban environment like Juba have little to no security. As a result of inadequate
shelter, clean drinking water and varying access to food street children are exposed to a number of
deadly diseases and illnesses. Furthermore, poor sanitation, a lack of awareness of good hygiene
practices and access to healthcare creates vulnerability. In the dry season, children are at r isk of severe
dehydration and during the rainy season, heavy rains o ften result in flooding in the areas where street
children sleep, thus increasing the risk of Malaria, Typhoid, parasites and other water -borne diseases
and illnesses. A lack of shelter and appropriate adult protection exposes children to predators and an
increased potential for sexual abuse and assault. Most children reported scavenging for food,
particularly from rubbish bins and begging for leftovers at restaurants in Juba. Over 82% of parents with
children living on the street said they only eat 1 meal a day. Street children without appropriate adult
care are also more likely to experience and instigate violence among their peers. In the absence of adult
supervision and guidance, street children often look for community among their peers and form gangs
for protection. There is a large population of approximately 250 boys from the same tribe, primarily
from Eastern Equatoria State (EES), who live in a slum area in Juba. While listening to the stories of how
many of these boys migrated to Juba, a theme emer ged. Many boys from traditional Pastoralist
backgrounds are reportedly rebelling against their traditional way of life and leaving home, many of
which have ended up living on the street in Juba.

CHILD LABOUR IN JUBA

The study found that 325 out of 370 ( 87.8%) children who participated in the research were involved in
some form of child labour. Of these children, 267 provided specific details about the income generating
activities he or she was involved in. Both boys and girls engaged in some form of chil d labour worked
primarily in one of Juba’s markets (26.1%) while a large number worked in shops, restaurants and hotels
(16.7%). Many girls reported working in brothels (15.1%), arguably the highest rate to date of
Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). Some children did not perform their work in one
fixed location, rather they were mobile, searching for work throughout Juba (14.4%). A small number of
children were working at his or her family dwelling, supporting his or her parents’ commercial activities
such as brewing alcohol or preparing food for sale in the market (7.4%) or at a factory (5%) [and as a
result were unable to attend school, thus categorising these activities as child labour] and 15.3% did not
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