Child abuse and neglect is expected to be high on the agenda, during the Commonwealth Peoples Forum, scheduled for November.

The African Network for the Prevention and Protection against Child Abuse and Neglect (ANPPCAN), a Child's rights organization operating in Uganda plans to table the issue before the Peoples Forum in order to raise awareness about its magnitude.

A situational analysis report by ANPPCAN shows that 15,350 cases of child abuse were reported to police with sexual abuse topping the list at 91.6% followed by neglect, child trafficking, abduction and stealing.

Other abuses highlighted in the report are physical abuse, sacrifice and murder.

The situational analysis report on child abuse and neglect further shows that the majority of the victims of child abuse were girls.

The report indicates that in most cases, abuse was meted upon the children by close relatives, of which fathers top the list of abusers.

The ANPPCAN Executive Director, Deogratias Yiga, says Government should refocus its attention on child protection issues by enacting child friendly laws.

ANPPCAN wants Government to take a stern position on the issue of child trafficking by punishing the people involved in recruiting, transporting and receiving children.

The ANNPCAN report also shows that children who are struggling to remain in school are extremely vulnerable to trafficking.

The Childs rights body has asked Government to earmark resources intended to rescue children held in slavery and have them rehabilitated.