Uganda hosts the most refugees of any country in Africa, nearing 2 million. Our research found that in its refugee settlements, nearly half of all children have experienced some form of violence. Sexual violence affected over 19% of girls and nearly 10% of boys.
Yet, over 12 months, in two primary schools in a refugee settlement, only 16 cases were reported. Then researchers started asking one deliberate question to school children.
Within five months, they identified 653 cases in those same two schools — a vast increase that revealed the true scope of a crisis hiding in silence.
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About the authors
Stella Muthuri
Stella Muthuri is the CEO of the Baobab Research Programme Consortium. Muthuri’s research is focused on enhancing the sexual and reproductive health and rights of vulnerable populations, including those in refugee settlements. Muthuri attained a doctorate in Population Health from the University of Ottawa.
Chi-Chi Undie
Chi-Chi Undie is the research director of the Baobab Research Programme Consortium. A senior associate and technical director within the Population Council, she has directed coalitions focusing on the design, implementation, evaluation, and scale-up of interventions related to sexual and reproductive health and rights and girls’ education in low- and middle-income countries.
