Student leaders tipped on gender-based violence

PIC: Female student leaders with the coordinator of Transformative Leaders Network- Africa, Ekakoro (left) after the meeting.  (Credit: Juliet Kasirye)

HUMAN RIGHTS

GULU - The coordinator of Transformative Leaders Network- Africa (TRANET -Africa), Fredrick Etoori Ekakoro has tipped female student leaders from different schools in Gulu district on gender-based violence.

Speaking during the regional consultative meeting conducted at St. John Paul II College, in Gulu district, Ekakoro  said, "We bring together adolescent female student leaders at the fore front in order to create awareness about HIV/ AIDs spread in schools and the impact of gender-based violence, mainly focusing on sexual harassment of female adolescent girls' that affects their academic performance."

The schools which participated in the meeting include, Cream Land high school, Gulu central high school, St. John Paul II College, Sir. Samuel Baker secondary school and Crested Crane secondary school.

Gender-based violence is the most common form of violence that occurs in most homes, schools and work place among others.

According to the UN, "there is no region of the world, no country or culture in which women's freedom from violence has been secured.

Students leaders during the training at St John Paul Colllege, Gulu district. (Credit: Juliet Kasirye)

Julie Faith Lanyero , a senior three student at St. John Paul II College in Gulu says, sometimes female students are harassed by male teachers depending on the way they portray themselves.

"In most cases if a female student declines to the teachers advance, the teacher won't give up easily. He will make that student's life hard such that the student gives in," explains Lanyero.

Since most students are harassed in schools, Ekakooro confirmed that student leaders will continue to receive mentorship on transformative leaderships, gender-based violence, HIV/AIDs, social enterprise development among others while in and after school.

TRANET -Africa, is a youth network that brings together over 20 youth led organisations across the country.

It aims at mainstreaming young peoples' engagement in socio-economic, political development and governance processes in Uganda and Africa with financial support from Her Voice Fund, SRHR Africa Trust (SAT)- Eastern Africa National Networks of AIDS Services Organisations (EANNASO).