A Generation at Risk: Acholi Youth in Northern Uganda, October 2005
Elizabeth St. Jean, Carla Suarez
October 16, 2005
A Generation at Risk: Acholi Youth in Northern Uganda, October 2005
Liu Institute for Global Issues
Gulu District NGO Forum
By Carla Suarez and Elizabeth St. Jean,
A Generation at Risk presents the voices and experiences of internally displaced youth (IDY) and their protection needs while living in the Gulu District of Northern Uganda. The report argues that neither the Government of Uganda nor humanitarian agencies officially recognize IDY as a vulnerable social category. Thus IDY are seldomly integrated into relief efforts or policies. The lack of recognition, research, and response to the particular threats facing IDY has generated a gap between government and humanitarian responsibilities, and field realities.
The report found three main factors that foster IDY vulnerabilities. First, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and Uganda’s People Defence Force (UPDF) often recruit youth into their forces. Their age group is viewed as ideal fighters or ”wives.“ Second, IDY are often the labour force in their communities, making them responsible for sustaining family members; when trying to fulfill these obligations this group is susceptible to a series of physical threats and dangers. Third, IDY are perceived as a homogenous displaced category. IDY are regularly grouped with children or adults, though they seldom belong in either category. IDY are at the mental development stage of adolescents, but are forced to take on responsibilities of adults – without receiving any aid that directly targets their needs.
A Generation at Risk provides recommendations to a wide variety of actors responsible for protection and will be an important resource to humanitarian, governments and UN workers alike.
