Why don’t they fight: A study to examine youth responses to exclusion and violence in Uganda
Uganda has a history of societal pressures that have sometimes resulted in violence such as insurgencies, armed conflict, and criminal activities, among other manifestations. While some of Uganda’s youth have and continue to be involved in violent activities, the vast majority of youth in Uganda are not, despite the fact that they are affected by the same societal pressures. Most young people are using non-violent strategies to respond to exclusion and other challenges, and they have made progress in rejecting cycles of violence in their communities.
Against this background, Genocide and Atrocity Prevention (GAPS Uganda), a civil society organization, will examine the factors that discourage youth participation in violence, and identify specific pathways to nonviolent behaviour as well as solutions to respond to violence, exclusion, and injustice. In order to scale up youth agency in Uganda and the Great Lakes Region, this project will document the strategic alliances, networks, and partnerships that youth form to develop resilience against violence. It will also identify good practices that can be replicated to strengthen and widen spaces for youth participation in civil engagement and conflict prevention initiatives.
The project will work closely with the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region and Ugandan policymakers at the local and national level to contribute to the development of evidence-based policies and interventions for promoting non-violence. It will also play a critical role in scaling up violence prevention efforts in Uganda and in the Great Lakes region by supporting the design of more youth-led and responsive policies and strategies to transform situations of violence.
Project ID
108613
Project Status
Completed
End Date
Duration
36 months
IDRC Officer
Martha Mutisi
Total Funding
CA$ 370,100.00
Location
Uganda
Programs
Governance and Justice
Institution Country
Uganda
Project Leader
Ashad Sentongo
Institution
GAPS Company Ltd
Institution Website
Outputs
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Promoting relationships and resilience to violence through youth-centered policies : policy brief 2 Brief
Despite interventions, participation in violence continues among youth in Uganda in response to discrimination in political processes, unemployment, poverty, poor access to services and other forms of injustice and exclusion. The study “Why they don’t fight” focused on understanding those who choose not to fight while responding to exclusion, discrimination and injustices (EDI), in order to generate state policy recommendations that could reduce youth violence. Resilience is shown to be integrated at interpersonal, family and communal levels, as well as within social bonds generated by schooling and the social environment. Relationship building needs to be emphasized. Author(s): GAPS Company Ltd Language: English |
Genocide and atrocity prevention support : why they don't fight : resilience, relationship, social bonds and self-advancement among the youth in Uganda Brief
This policy brief is based on the Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Support (GAPS) study that examines youth experiences of exclusion, discrimination and injustice (EDI). Despite being affected by the same conditions as those who use violence, a majority do not fight to seek redress. Findings reveal that mechanisms of resilience, relationships and social bonding support non-violent tendencies; participation by youth in shaping community efforts towards non-violence will ensure greater ownership of new programs. Factors accounting for the injustice and frustration experienced by youth are the enduring political, bureaucratic and administrative constraints of rampant nepotism, corruption, mismanagement of resources, political repression, and massive long-term unemployment. Author(s): GAPS Uganda Language: English |
Genocide and atrocity prevention support : why they don't fight Brief
This policy brief is based on the Genocide and Atrocity Prevention Support (GAPS) study that examines youth experiences of exclusion, discrimination and injustice (EDI). A number of policy gaps have been identified to account for failure to influence youth to constructively engage conditions of EDI. However, despite being affected by the same conditions as those who use violence, a majority do not fight to seek redress. Findings reveal that mechanisms of resilience, relationships and social bonding support non-violent tendencies; participation by youth in shaping community efforts towards non-violence will ensure greater ownership of new programs. Author(s): GAPS Uganda Language: English |