The UN is now calling the situation in northern Uganda one of the worst humanitarian crisis on the planet. Kony kidnaps the children – and forces them to kill that same night, often a member of their own family. If he takes three brothers, he forces two to kill the third – or all to die at once. He preys on their minds, telling them that once they’ve killed, they’re part of his army forever. He pulls them from everything they know – their parents, their homes, their schools – and forces them to steal and kill as roving packs of rebels – or face certain death.
The Night Commuters
To avoid being
kidnapped, every night thousands of children travel from their
homes before dusk and sleep in two protected villages. The sight
is almost unbelievable Children sleeping crammed on church steps,
bus station floors, anywhere they can find – just to be safe
for the night.
Some of the
kidnapped children do manage to escape – but even then they can’t return home. Kony will search them out at their villages, and if he finds them, force them to kill their parents and loved ones. A few organizations have opened “re-education centers” for the children. The first night after they arrive, counselors walk up and down the open sleeping areas all through the night, telling the traumatized children, “We
love you. You are our children. We are sorry we could not protect
you. We welcome you home. What has happened is not your fault...”
Whose fault is it? How can it be stopped?
Why can’t someone get this guy?
It’s a complicated situation. Kony is surrounded by his “rebel army”- which is composed of abducted children. The Ugandan government is using foreign aid – including US money – for a military campaign to fight the rebels called “Operation Iron Fist.” Unfortunately, when the reports come in that the Army killed “forty rebels”, the truth is – they’ve killed forty children. It’s not a solution that is humane – nor is it working.
How can I help? Really?
A massive, collective
outcry is needed to stop the horrors in Northern Uganda. The International
Criminal Court has just issued its first arrest warrants ever – and they’re for Joseph Kony and five of his followers. The charges include “crimes against humanity” – including
killing, maiming, abduction, rape and forced recruitment of thousands
of children.
The UN has officially
affirmed that “The international community, through the UN, has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means to help protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.” This Responsibility to Protect calls
for “collective action
in cooperation with relevant regional organizations as appropriate,
should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities manifestly
fail to protect their populations.”
We are taking a stand by asking ourselves, the UN, and Uganda to live up to our Responsibility to Protect these
children - and to bring an immediate end to this reign of terror.
We’ve collected the names of thousands of children abducted
by Kony and have imprinted each one on a distinctive silver necklace
nameplate with a green band. All profits from the sale of the nameplates
go to advocacy and care for children of Northern Uganda. But buying
the nameplates is where the campaign begins.
Money won’t solve the problem. Your voice will. Wearing a name of an abducted child is making a commitment to something larger – to creating a movement, to speaking for a child who’s
been silenced, to telling the story of these children, until everyone
knows it and no one can turn away. Until the world comes together
and brings them home.
| Confidentiality Statement |
We
do not give out, nor do we have, any crucial identifying information
about the children. When you wear your necklace nameplate,
we ask you to think of ALL of the children of Northern Uganda. |
