Human Rights Violation

Lords Resistance Army:

1. Describe the situation /conflict in the country of your choice.

The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) originated in Northern Uganda and is a rebel group led by Joseph Kony. It formed in the 1980’s when Alice Lakwena claimed to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit and ordered to overthrow the Ugandan government. The Ugandan government was accused of mistreating the Acholi people, causing many of the people to resent them and follow the movement made by Lakwena. Her support grew in numbers until a battle was won by the government that lead to the exile of Lakwena. Without their leader, the people of the movement became loss and had no clear direction. A man claiming to be the cousin of Lakwena, Joseph Kony, took advantage of the situation, taking over the movement in 1986 and reintroducing it as the Lords Resistance Army. Initially, the LRA promoted their intentions of overthrowing the government and ruling Uganda based upon the Ten Commandments. As the support towards Kony began to subside, he became desperate to uphold his power and safety. He began abducting thousands of children, using the boys as child soldiers to do his bidding and the girls as sex slaves.

2. Outline the main human rights problems/violations in the country of your choice?

The LRA are inhumane in their actions and breach the human rights of people. Often, rebels of the LRA impersonate military soldiers or ambush the gatherings of villages. Brutal attacks are launched, killing those who are old or week using weapons and they cut off people lips, noses and ears to serve as a warning to others. They capture those who are useful to them, usually constituting as children. The captives are marched to camps where they are turned into soldiers, porters, cooks or sex slaves. They are forced to kill or rape the members of their family and innocent people, making the thoughts of returning home unbearable. Those found to resist or attempt to escape are tortured and...