Friday, November 1st, 2024 | By
Leaders in Kiboga and Kyankwanzi districts have called on citizens to embrace government programs as a solution to end poverty which is the main cause of gender-based violence.
Speaking in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner for Kyankwanzi, Peruth Kabaale said that embracing key government programs is the only solution to get Ugandans out of poverty.
“The only way we can end gender based violence and violence against children is to embrace parish development model, Emyooga, Youth livelihood programs, Grow loans and all opportunities so that we can get out of poverty and then we would have solutions for early marriages,” Kabale said
Kabale however noted that government action alone is not enough and asked all stakeholders, parents, community leaders, civil society organizations, religious and cultural leaders and the private sector to also join the fight against forced marriages, teenage pregnancies and school dropouts.
“We must take joint actions to ensure all our girls enroll and complete all levels of education, live healthy, free from violence and all harmful social norms. We must work together to dismantle all barriers that hinder girls’ progress in Uganda,” she said.
Her comments came after the young girls in the district raised an alarm over increasing school drop outs, forced marriages and gender-based violence affecting them; which are attributed to poverty.
According to the District Vice Chairperson for Kyankwanzi, Amooti Mijjumbi, poverty worsens gender-based violence (GBV) by increasing economic dependence, limiting access to resources, and reinforcing harmful social norms.
Christine Kaaya, the Kiboga district woman Member of Parliament, urged parents to follow up cases of rape and defilement from police up to court so that the offenders are apprehended.
Story compiled by Gerald Senkoomi
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