Often, when we think about Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) we think of those still held captive, those killed, and the nearly 440,000 who are currently displaced. Yet there’s another number that may surprise you. Camilla Matteucci, the protection coordinator at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) estimates that at least 10,000 people are still missing in northern Uganda, due to the violence of Joseph Kony and his Lord’s Resistance Army.
Two weeks ago, more than 200 family members gathered in the Lamwo district of northern Uganda, to hold a ceremony and pay remembrance to those who are still missing. Matteucci describes the overarching sense of uncertainty among family members of those still missing;
“They do not know if the person is alive or dead, if they’re still in the armed group, which also puts a stigma on the family, and therefore it’s hard for them to deal with the community at large.”
Coinciding with the ceremony, August 30th marked the United Nation’s International Day of Enforced Disappearances, which according to the UN occurs when:
“Persons are arrested, detained or abducted against their will or otherwise deprived of their liberty by officials of different branches or levels of government, or by organized groups or private individuals acting on behalf of, or with the support, direct or indirect, consent or acquiescence, of the government, followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the persons concerned or a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of their liberty, which places such person outside the protection of the law.”
The Rome Statute, which was adopted on July 1, 2002, for the International Criminal Court, states that “a forced disappearance constitutes as a crime against humanity, and thus, gives victim’s families the right to see reparations, and to demand the truth about the disappearance of their loved ones.”
Family members are seeking to do just that, hoping to one day know the truth behind their pain. Invisible Children, like the ICRC, works to reunite family members with loved ones who have been abducted by Kony and the LRA.
Utilizing “come home” messaging, we encourage the peaceful surrender of LRA combatants – many of whom were abducted against their will – and reintegrate them into their community. Perhaps the most evident example of this is Invisible Children’s Centre Elikya which opened at full capacity earlier this year. The Centre provides rehabilitation and reintegration services for up to 150 child at a time. To support our ongoing efforts to reunite families torn apart by the LRA, click here.
Think people should hear about this?