Torit State Director in the Bureau of Statistics says school dropout and unemployment are the main contributing factors to high crime rates among the youth in Torit County of Eastern Equatoria State.
This statement follows a round table discussion organized by Peace Education and Rehabilitation Services or PEARS.
Jackson Ukelo, who facilitated the discussion, says most of the young people have resorted to criminal activities due to idleness and rejection by the society.
‘I think one of the problems that is making the youth committing crimes is that, most of them are school dropout and not only that some of these youth are unemployed and you know when someone is not working is like and idle mind is a devil workshop. So you find that most of these youth are not working, idle, and they are even unemployed or they think that even the society has rejected them so they resort to criminal activities as a way of living”.
He says to reduce such crimes, the youth need to be redirected with new options and ideas that can keep them engaged.
Ukello urges the government not to use force but instead train them to gain innovative skills for self-sustainability.
‘I think one of the initiatives or the approach to be made is to see into it that they are called, they are met and tell them that you people there are options here that can help you as an individual and your family. So they have to be redirected and then there should be a lot of negotiation. Using force by the government is just the last resort. You cannot force them not to do that but you can give them options in live some event could go back to school. Some event can be given skills and get better jobs whether they have self employment or they are employed with different entities’, he adds.
The speaker made the remarks during a round table discussion at Torit civic engagement center on Friday.