UWOPA to lobby for increased police budget 

May 29, 2018

UWOPAfaulted the police for always asking for money meant for transport whenever they report cases of sexual harassment and defilement at the police posts and station.

PIC: A member of Girl Rights Club(L) hands over their petition to the MPs on Friday at Parliament. (Credit: Faustine Odeke)  
 
VIOLENCE
 
KAMPALA - The Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA)has committed to lobby for increased police budgetary allocation to enable them respond timely on issues of gender based violence in their.
 
The committee chairperson, Monica Amoding, said they are also going to engage in training female teachers and girls in some schools in making re-usable sanitary towels so that they (girls) can manage their menstrual hygiene.
 
Amoding made the remarks during the national reflection meeting attended by Girls' Rights Clubs (GRC) members from Tororo, Kamuli and Buyende district with members of parliament, senior civil servants, media and other development partners at Parliamentary chambers on Friday.
 
The meeting was organised by UWOPA with financial support from Plan International Uganda and Forum for African Women Educationist- Uganda (FAWE-U).
 
The GRC's are supported through the Convention Against all sorts of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) projects.
 
The GRC members in the petition delivered to the MP's 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 the police posts and station.
 
They said at times the police can tender to side with perpetrators of the crime against them just because they have money to facilitate them.
 
They also appealed to education ministry to ensure that every school is equipped with changing rooms structures 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 realization of women and girls rights in Uganda particularly through increased access to education and issue of fundamental human rights.
 
 Susan Muwanga from the ministry of gender, labor and social development said her ministry has come up with numerous policies and action plans intended to safe guard 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, disciplined and should desist from doing things that may lead them into dange.

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