Government launches ‘Protect the Girl, Save the Nation’ campaign
Vows to address increasing cases of defilement, teenage pregnancies, child marriage due to COVID
It’s been one year and eight months since the COVID-19 pandemic was declared. Nations continue to grapple with the disease and its impact. Unfortunately, children still bear the brunt of the pandemic. As scientists, leaders, politicians, promote efforts to slow the pandemic, the global pandemic threatens to become a child rights crisis – robbing children of many of their rights including education and protection.
In Uganda, education institutions have been closed since March 2020, denying children their right to learn and ability to benefit from the additional support and safety nets that come with staying in school. The prolonged school closures have resulted into increased vulnerabilities of children especially the girl child, exposing many to early marriages, sexual abuse, defilement, and teenage pregnancies. The numbers of those affected continues to grow, robbing the affected adolescents of their childhood.
To create safe environments for adolescent girls and boys to grow and thrive, the Government of Uganda with support from UNFPA and UNICEF launched a nationwide campaign to address defilement, child marriage, teenage pregnancy as well as promote positive parenting. The yearlong campaign dubbed ‘Protect the Girl, Save the Nation’ is spearheaded by Hon. Janet Kataaha Museveni, the First Lady, Minister of Education and Sports and adolescent girls’ champion, supported by various stakeholders. The Vice President H.E Jessica Alupo and Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja are co-champions of the campaign.
In her remarks read by the Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Mrs. Museveni applauded UNICEF and UNFPA for holding hands with the government to save the lives of young people adding that as a mother and minister responsible for the education of children in Uganda, she feels that the current situation of increased cases of defilement, child marriages, teenage pregnancies and failed parenthood in the last two years is alarming.
Here are the highlights from the campaign launch that happened on 3 December 2021.
The campaign that will utilize a multisectoral approach will involve various government Ministries, Departments and Agencies and these were represented at the launch. A dialogue was held prior to the launch on the same day to discuss ways in which government working with partners can forge a way forward to end teenage pregnancy, early marriage and promote positive parenting.
“It takes a village to raise a child” is a well-known proverb. But, why does it take a village to raise a child? It takes a village to raise a child because raising a child is a huge task and a big responsibility that requires a collaborative effort,”
At the launch, adolescent girls and boys were represented. Through songs and drama skits, they shared their plea while calling on all stakeholders present to protect and promote their rights.
Religious leaders remain critical in mobilizing communities and disseminating messages to the masses. In this campaign, they will also play a key role especially in ensuring parents adopt positive parenting practices to save and protect the girl child.
While delivering his remarks, Dr. Munir Safieldin, UNICEF Representative in Uganda, said.
“There is no failure, there is no shame bigger than when the entire village fails to protect a girl child from sexual abuse. There is no failure, there is no shame bigger than when the men of the village prey on their teenage girls and impregnate them.”
“One single case of teenage pregnancy is too much.”
Mr. Kevin Colgan, Irish Ambassador to Uganda and Joost Van Ettro, Head of Cooperation, Netherlands Embassy. Donors and development partners were also represented at the event and pledged their commitment.
UNFPA Country Representative in Uganda - Dr. Mary Otieno delivers her remarks at the campaign launch. She noted that teenage pregnancies do not occur in a vacuum. They are a consequence of a combination of factors including lack of knowledge, skills and sexual and reproductive health services, poverty, communities’ and families’ acceptance of child marriage, and inadequate efforts to keep girls in school.
Hon. Joyce Moriku, Minister of State for Primary Education (L) and Hon. Peace Mutuuzo, Minister of State for Gender and Culture were in attendance. Hon, Moriku was the director of ceremonies. The two ministries and other government departments and agencies will mobilize support for the campaign among various stakeholders including religious and cultural leaders.
While delivering her remarks, Hon. Robinah Nabbanja, the Prime Minister of Uganda and Co-champion of the national campaign, reiterated government support towards the campaign and rallied all government structures to contribute to ending harmful practices. She singled out the religious leaders, judiciary and all leaders – ministers, members of parliament, district leaders, resident district commissioners, police, local council leaders and reminded them that it is their duty and responsibility together with government to protect and save ‘our girls’ and to create an environment in which they can grow and explore their full potential.
Hon. Robinah Nabbanja (Centre, front row), poses with other dignitaries – Ministers, ambassadors, development partners after the campaign launch. The partners committed to supporting the roll out the campaign that will begin in December 2021.
