SOROTI -Young people from Karamoja an Sebei sub region have asked their leaders at various levels to focus on increasing funding allocated to the youth as well as Sensitization campaigns if Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Gender Based Violence are to be completely eliminated from these areas.
In a dialogue held at Akello Hotel in Soroti, these pointed out that a government has put in place several measures to end these vices but there are still many gaps that needs to be addressed as soon as possible.
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These also blamed their leaders for being shy to talk about the dangers of these harmful practices in fear that they may not be elected by some members in the next elections.
Chelengat Gloria from Kapchorwa, also a Global youth consortium representative in Uganda an initiative by UNICEF and UNFPA consisting of young people to end FGM by 2030 asked policy makers to ensure that they include young people at all stages of programming and implementation.
“Young people are allocated little resources at Local Government level which can’t do anything interms of awareness creation and Sensitization. There is a need for increased Sensitization on FGM and GBV among the youth because these are agents of change in their localities.”
She also noted that its unfortunate to find out that in most districts where FGM is conducted , the districts in their budgetary allocations have no funds allocated to ending the practice.
Limo Ronnie from Kapchorwa, Member of Global consortium against FGM and an Activista at Action Aid International Uganda, advised that in order to end child marriages and Gender based Violence, Government should scale up its Sensitization campaigns in the areas where the vices are still rampant.
“Most of the FGM cases reported die from the Police level, therefore Government should scale up Capacity building for its investigating officers to gather evidence which can result into successful conviction of the perpetrators. Most cases are prosecuted successfully because of involvement of various Non Governmental organizations(NGOs).”
He further asked concerned stakeholders to ensure that they disseminate the translated FGM Act to various communities for all people to understand the punishments that can be given to anyone caught in the practice.
Hon. Chemutai phylis , Woman Member of Parliament for Kapchorwa District and one of the participants welcomed the idea of bringing young people on board adding that this enables them to share their grievances with concerned authorities.
“We have received reports that traditional birth attendants, midwives connive with the husbands of expectant mothers to Carry out FGM on their wives. We are going to look into the matter as leaders and once we find it true, we shall push for an immediate action.”
Phylis added that in order to eliminate FGM , Government should open up schools in all areas of Sebei and Karamoja region to enable all children to go to school.
Dennis Athiyo , District Community Development Officer (DCDO) Nakapiripiti district reported that as districts with high cases of Child marriages and FGM, receive limited funding which has greatly affected their Sensitization and monitoring process.
“We have limited budget as DCDOs yet we have very many roles towards improvement of well being of vulnerable groups of people like Children, Girls , women, Elderly and disabled people. We have surveillance teams to monitor cases of Gender based Violence and FGM, handle referrals for the survivors, provide physco social support to victims and many other roles.”
He noted that with funding from organizations like Action Aid through community engagements, the situation has not remained the same since many people have turned away from the practice and the few that are still practicing do it under cover.
Samuel Francis Ononge from Action Aid and Coordinator of UNFPA Funded project in Sebei region revealed that they have realized that much as interventions have been put in place, the vice is continuing on under secrecy. It used to be public but now done by traditional birth attendants.
“We engaged young people and policy makers on board to discuss issues and what should be done to stop FGM.
It has become hard to have real statistics on FGM in sebei because communities can’t speak about it. We want young people to engage communities , do surveillance and give us reports.”
He also added that most women willingly take themselves for cultural practices like FGM because they want pride and recognition from other community members and this calls for more sensitization campaigns
Chemutai phylis Woman Member of Parliament for Kapchorwa District and one of the leaders present in the meeting, welcomed the idea of bringing young people on board adding that this enables them to share their grievances with concerned authorities.
“We have received reports that traditional birth attendants, midwives connive with the husbands of expectant mothers to Carry out FGM on their wives. We are going to look into the matter as leaders and once we find it true, we shall push for an immediate action.”
Phylis added that in order to eliminate FGM , Government should open up schools in all areas of Sebei and Karamoja region to enable all children to go to school.
The workshop attracted youth leaders from Nakapiripiti, Moroto, Amudat, Kween , Bukwo and Kapchorwa districts as well as well as leaders and CDOs from those areas.
