Lawmakers are stressing the necessity of adopting a comprehensive approach to combat Gender Based Violence (GBV), arguing that existing efforts predominantly target women, neglecting the needs of men.
During a plenary sitting on November 23, 2023, Members of Parliament (MPs) responded to a presentation on the 16 days of Activism against GBV by the Minister of State for Gender, Labour, and Social Development (Gender and Culture), Peace Mutuuzo.
Anita Among, the Speaker, highlighted the vulnerability of boys due to the neglect of their needs, leading to a surge in crime rates and subsequently contributing to gender-based violence. She emphasized the importance of caring for both the boy and girl child.
Andrew Ojok, the MP for Omoro County, expressed concern about the disenfranchisement of boys in various sectors, such as health and education, pushing them towards drug and alcohol abuse. Ojok emphasized the need to support the boy child without undermining efforts to empower the girl child.
The Minister identified child neglect and abandonment as emerging causes of GBV, leading to increased emotional violence among children and women. Mutuuzo emphasized that GBV is pervasive in Uganda, affecting individuals across social, economic, and political spectrums.
According to Mutuuzo, this year’s campaign aims to mobilize increased long-term sustainable investments from the government, private sector, foundations, and other donors to combat violence against women and girls.
Cecilia Ogwal, an MP from Dokolo district, raised questions about the impact of the campaign, calling for a report on improvements in the fight against gender-based violence since its inception. She urged the government to include rural women in activities, noting that current initiatives primarily focus on urban centers.
This year’s 16 days of activism against gender-based violence will be observed on November 24 at Siriba Primary School, Bweyale, in Kiryandongo district.
The 16 days of Activism is a global campaign initiated in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University in New Jersey, USA. The campaign focuses on training women in leadership based on global best practices.
