Eminet Faith Leaders Commit To Promote Gender Equality

Eminent faith and religious leaders in Uganda who met with policy makers in Kampala to discuss gender equality have committed  to integrate measures to prevent and mitigate Gender based violence in all their structures to ensure gender equality.     In a statement read on behalf of other religious leaders by the dean of Orthodox church also secretary general

Eminent faith and religious leaders in Uganda who met with policy makers in Kampala to discuss gender equality have committed  to integrate measures to prevent and mitigate Gender based violence in all their structures to ensure gender equality.     In a statement read on behalf of other religious leaders by the dean of Orthodox church also secretary general Uganda joint Christian council father Constantine Mbonabingi, they expressed concern with the rate at which gender based violence is pushing many girls and women into emotional pain, depression and death and its high time they step in to act. "We must wear their shoes, this will help us to fully understand their pain and joy, struggles and aspirations." - Sheikh Mohammed Waiswa The men of GOD  have also promised to partner with other religious organizations , None  Governmental organizations, private sector, Government to advocate against gender based violence and promote gender equality. They have also promised to work with local authorities, community health caregivers, Teachers and parents to raise awareness on gender based violence such as child marriage, female genital mutilation, physical violence against children and women among others. The religious leaders also commit to create multi-religious centers where survivors of gender based violence  will be able to receive help or legal assistance. They however ask Government to allocate resources to support implementation of laws relating to gender based violence and women affirmative programs. The Arch bishop church of Uganda Most Reverend Doctor Samuel Kazimba Mugalu said that despite the numerous laws including the domestic violence act to protect women’s rights in family and marriages , girls and women continue to suffer. They have blamed the weak enforcement of the policies and laws related to gender equality and equity to poor resource allocation. They also want the Ministry of Education to include awareness and information of gender based violence into the life skills curriculum in schools. The Deputy Mufti Uganda Muslim supreme council sheikh Mohammed Ali Waiswa who represented the Mufti of Uganda sheikh  Shaban Mubajje said apart from those commitments they will also provide spiritual and psycho-social support to the victims of violence and raise awareness on gender based violence to their congregations. A  senior gender officer from the ministry of gender and social development Doreen Bakaha as that is a commitment by Government to end gender based violence and to support the victims, they are engaging civil society organizations to put up more shelters across the country to cater for the survivors. She said with the creation of more shelters survivors of gender based violence will not travel long distances in search for services. National statistics show that half of adult women between the age of 15 to 49 years have experienced violence and more than 1 in every 5 women aged 15 to 24 years have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. The meeting that was organized by Faith for family health initiative was attended by members of parliament, Faith leaders, and representatives from religious organizations, Government officials from ministers of gender and education and young people from higher institutions of learning among others.