As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate 16 days activism against Gender Based violence, State Minister for Gender and Culture, Peace Mutuuzo has advised men to report cases of domestic violence to get fair justice.
She also urged Ugandans to abandon cultural and religious practices that perpetuate gender-based violence.
Mutuuzo was addressing the media in Kampala to launch the 16 days of activism against Gender Based violence, which is an international campaign that aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.
The campaign runs from November 25 to December 10 which is Human Rights Day.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign provides a platform for individuals, organisations, and governments to come together and take action to prevent and eliminate GBV
” Ugandans must confront and reject customs and traditions that harm the women and girls, emphasizing that these practices are not only unacceptable but also illegal,”Mutuuzo stressed.
Mutuuzo cited examples of harmful practices, including child marriage, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) highlighting that globaly, over 230 million girls and women have undergone to Female Genital Mutilation representing 15% increase that involves the partial or total removal of external Female genitalia, leading to physical and emotional harm.
The Minister however advised men go help support their wives with domestic work especially in situations where they are not employed to have peaceful relationship and marriages.
“Helping a woman cook or watch dishes does not remove aman in you. It supplements family responsibility and harmony in afamily,” Mutuuzo explained.
According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2021 national survey on violence in Uganda report, 95% of Ugandan Women and girls had experienced physical and /or sexual violence, and the Ministery of gender in the same year said that Gender Based Violence (GBV) led to at least 168 deaths.
The report attributed the vice to cultural and religious practices as main contributors to gender based violence (GBV).
