Cultural leaders under the Council of Traditional Leaders in Africa (COTLA) – Uganda chapter have committed to addressing harmful cultural practices that contribute to Gender Based violence in Uganda.
This was in a joint declaration on promoting girl-child education and retention in schools as the leaders joined the world to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence under the theme; “Towards Beijing +30: UNiTE to End Violence Against Women and Girls”.
Prime ministers of cultural institutions from Tooro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Iteso Cultural Union, Alur Kingdom, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, Inzu Ya Masaaba, Obundingiya Bwa Bamba, Obwenengo Bwa Bugwe, Buruuli Cultural Institution, Lango Cultural Institution, Kumam Cultural Heritage and Sebei Cultural Institute participated in the development of the declaration.
The process was facilitated by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Cross-Cultural Foundation of Uganda (CCFU), with support from UN Women.
The declaration was among others premised on the statistical information that reveal a deep-rooted challenge of limited access to education by girl children.
The 2012 report released by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) on the gender statistics in the education sector revealed that the proportion of females without formal education was twice (24%) that of their male (10%) counterparts, and less females (19%) than males (25%) had completed secondary education.
The contributing factors to the low completion rates and retention of girls in schools include; poverty resulting in lack of school scholastic materials and school fees. Also, sometimes parents compel their daughters to stay at home and help with housework or other income-generating activities. Some families decide to marry off their young daughters to receive dowry, which prevents them from continuing their education.
35% of girls are reported to drop out of school due to early marriages, and 23% drop out due to early pregnancy.
Another key barrier to girls’ education in Uganda are the traditional social and cultural norms, gender roles and male-dominated society.
Recognizing the importance of education for the empowerment of the girl child and development of their communities, cultural leaders committed to identifying, publicizing, and raising awareness of the positive cultural resources in their communities that support enrollment and retention of children in schools, particularly girls.
According to the cultural leaders, this will be achieved through community outreach programs, mass media, traditional and cultural events, promoting positive parenting practices, and other initiatives that promote the value of education for all children.
The cultural leaders have also pledged to collaborate with other stakeholders, including government, civil society organizations, private sector, and development partners, to collectively pool resources and expertise in promoting the positive aspects of their cultures that aid child education, especially for girls.
They believe that by working together, they can leverage their collective strengths and create a more supportive environment for girls to access education and reach their full potential. This collaboration will enable them to promote cultural practices and norms that value and promote education, and address those that hinder it, in order to create a more equitable and just society for all.
The cultural leaders have further committed to strengthening the involvement of men and boys in shaping and reshaping cultural norms and practices that promote the education and well-being of girls. They have also committed to addressing harmful cultural practices that contribute to Gender-Based Violence, such as child marriages, teenage pregnancies, and female genital mutilation. By engaging men and boys as allies and champions in this effort, they aim to create a cultural environment that values and promotes the education and well-being of all children, regardless of their gender.
The cultural leaders have also pledged to support government programs aimed at improving the lives of families, with an emphasis on women and girls.
They recognize the importance of addressing the social and economic challenges that many families face, and they commit to working with government and other stakeholders to implement relevant legal and policy frameworks that promote the well-being of all families. By supporting these programs, they can help to create a more supportive environment for families to thrive, and for girls to access the education and opportunities they deserve.
