UWOPA to lobby for increased Police budget

May 25, 2018

They faulted the Police for always asking for money meant for transport whenever they report cases

 

The Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) has committed to lobby for increased Police budgetary allocation, to enable timely response on issues of gender-based violence in the community they work in.

The committee chairperson, Monica Amoding, said they are also going to engage in training female teachers and girls in some schools to make re-usable sanitary towels, so that they can manage their own menstrual hygiene.

Amoding made the remarks during the national reflection meeting attended by Girls Rights Clubs (GRC) members from Tororo, Kamuli and Buyende districts, with Members of Parliament, senior civil servants, media and other development partners at the Parliament chambers on Friday.

The meeting was organized by UWOPA with financial support from Plan International Uganda and Forum for African Women Educationist-Uganda (FAWE-U). The GRC are supported through the UN's Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

The GRC members in the petition delivered to the MPs highlighted rampant sexual violence against women and girls, child marriages, domestic violence, defilement, discrimination and inadequate support as some of the challenges affecting them.

They faulted the Police for always asking for money meant for transport whenever they report cases of sexual harassment and defilement at Police posts and stations. They claimed at times, the Police tends to side with the perpetrators, just because they have money to facilitate them.

They also appealed to the education ministry to ensure that every school is equipped with changing rooms to enable the girl child manage their menstrual hygiene besides having a water source.

Robert Wafula, the CEDAW project coordinator, said the project contributes to the realisation of women and girls rights in Uganda, particularly through increased access to education and the issue of fundamental human rights.

 Susan Muwanga from the ministry of gender, labour and social development said her ministry has come up with numerous policies and action plans intended to safeguard the livelihood of the girl child.

Muwanga said the ministry is also promoting multi-sectoral approaches of handling gender based violence in the communities.

Violet Akurut the Katakwi Woman MP, appealed to the girls to do one thing at a time, have self-respect, be disciplined and desist from doing things that may lead them into danger.

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