THIRD NATIONAL GIRL SUMMIT TO END CHILD MARRIAGE IN UGANDA, 27th NOVEMBER 2020
On November 27th 2020, Girls Not Brides Uganda, Joy for Children Uganda in collaboration with World Vision, organized 3rd National Girl summit November 2020, under the theme
Securing Uganda`s future: enhancing collective Action to end child marriage in the face of covid 19.
The event was graced by Archbishop of church of Uganda his Grace Stephen Kazimba Mugalu and attended by delegates from Ministry of Education and sports, Ministry of Gender, Labor and social development and Ministry of Health, civil society organizations, UN agencies among other key dignitaries. A total of 50 participants attended the event at the Next conference center (NBS television), 483,076 reached twitter and Face book. The event was also broadcasted live on NBS TV 11:00am -1:00pm.
Girls not Brides Uganda is a national partnership of over 90 grassroots, national and international civil society organizations committed to working together to ending child marriage. 34% of girls in Uganda are married before their 18th birthday while 7% are married before the age of 15. Child marriage violates girls` human rights and robs them of enjoying their early childhood years.
Partner organizations have a common intent of advocating for policies and laws that protect the underage girl child from being married off so that they realize their full potential and live a dignified life.
The virtual event occurred during the 16 days of activism against Gender based violence and harmful practices like Female Genital mutilation, child marriage and violence against women and girls. As a result of the covid-19 induced lockdown in March 2020, a total of 3,280 cases of GBV have been reported to police, this is in addition to the 283 cases of violence against children according ministry of Gender labor and social development.
In response to prevent the spread of covid-19, the government of Uganda instructed the all schools to close with an estimation of over 15 getting out of school. This has negatively impacted on girls` sexual and reproductive health and rights. Young girls particularly in the rural areas have been defiled and physically violated by their close relatives because they have been confined at home. 1.3 million Girls are likely to be married in 2023 due to the covid-19(UNFPA 2020)
Summit objectives.
- Create a platform for the most vulnerable girls to speak out on issues affecting them during the pandemic.
- Create awareness on violence against girls among families and communities and law enforcement agencies.
- Publically condemn and call on various stakeholders to desist from all forms of violence against the girl child particularly ending all forms of sexual violence against the girl child.
High lights of the summit.
- In his opening remarks, Moses Ntenga the chair for Girls not Brides Uganda Alliance and Executive Director Joy for Children-Uganda, appreciated members for their continued endeavors to end child marriage and working together as a partnership. Consequences of Child marriage can be tragic among which are teenage pregnancies, Gender Based Violence, school drop outs and sometimes death.
- The executive director Girls not Brides, Dr Faith Mwangi Powell in her message to the audience pointed out that child marriage is a form of Gender inequality and education is an insurance to the realization of girl`s dreams. This requires comprehensive efforts of all key stakeholders in the campaign to end child marriage
- “Children are a gift from God, and we are all charged with the responsibility of protecting them”. Statement by his Grace the Arch Bishop of the church of Uganda. He further stressed how the church alone cannot stop violence against children but rather called upon other stakeholders in their different capacities to play a bigger role in ending violence and child marriage.
- The third National Girl summit was also an opportunity to launch another campaign dubbed “it takes a world to end child marriage” by world vision Uganda and was launched by his grace the Arch Bishop of Uganda.
We call upon all stakeholders to embrace the new campaign and work with us to bring an end to violence for all children in this country. Jason Evans World vision Uganda.
- The lady Justice, Ms Margaret Mutonyi of the high court in Kampala, in her key note address to the audience expressed the need for addressing the issues of the girl child earlier enough so as to secure the future of girls.
- Poverty was highlighted as the major trigger as it is closely linked to child marriage; Families with limited resources often give away their daughters to older men in exchange for money.
- The ministry of Education and sports developed the National education sexuality framework to guide on sexuality education for Uganda`s youthful population. However, there have been controversies about the name of the framework.
Key Recommendations.
- The Archbishop of the church of Uganda, His Grace Stephen Kazimba Mugalu pledged the church`s support to preach a message of reconciliation and unity in families to prevent physical and mental abuses.
- The Ministry of Education and sports is closely working with the Ministry of health to link schools to health centers and has empowered teenage mothers to continue with schools after giving birth.
- Miss Jessica Nsungwa of Mental and girl health in the Ministry of Health pledged the Ministry`s commitment to work with Districts, Community Development Officers to report all cases of Violence against Children. The ministry is working on a massive training of counselors to attend to teenage mothers who seek help at the health centers.
- Lady justice Margaret Mutonyi of the high court of Kampala, urged the government of Uganda to address gaps in justice, law and order calling for more exceptional space for violence cases to reduce delayed justice.
We appreciate World vision Uganda and the people`s postcode lottery for the support rendered in making the event a success. Ending child marriage is achievable and together we can bring the evil vice to an end.
