THE TALE OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN KITGUM скачать в хорошем качестве

THE TALE OF CHILD MARRIAGE IN KITGUM

POVERTY, BAD CULTURAL PRACTICES, AND NEGATIVE GENDER NORMS DRIVING CHILD MARRIAGE Majority of mothers forced to marry at an early age are leaving in misery and regrets as some go for days on an empty stomach with their children. Those who became victims of child marriage are now carrying out for strict interventions to curb down the vice especially in Northern Uganda with the highest cases of child marriage Kitgum being the lead district. Ambience Kitgum is one of the seven Districts in the Acholi sub-region in Northern Uganda. With a total population of over two hundred thousand, Kitgum is listed among the northern districts with high cases of teen bides. Child marriage is highest in northern Uganda, estimated at 59%, followed by Eastern region at 58%, Western at 52%, while South and Central including Kampala lie below 50%. According to UNICEF 34% of girls in Uganda are married before their 18th birthday and UNESCO projected that the school closure during Lockdown increased the risk further by 25%. Through this narrow windy road, we were led to Layik West, Labongo Amida sub county, Kitgum district where “Patricia” not her real names was joyfully handed for marriage at 17 years. When her first child passed on, she returned home but her parents brought her back and collected 200,000/= as fine. Patricia and her husband are struggling and sometimes go for two days without food. Harriet, is another survivor who forced in marriage as a teenager by her parents. Her attempts through the local leaders did not yield any fruit. Currently she is making a living by quarrying in Kitgum. Leaders say this continue to grow due to rampant poverty, bad cultural practices, lack of information and negative gender norms among others In Kitgum, child is highest in Kitgum Matidi Sub-county at 3 per cent and lowest in Labongo Akwang, Pandwong, Pager, Lagoro, and Namokora sub-counties at less than 1 per cent, according to a 2020 Gender-Based Violence Survey report. The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development acknowledges significant strides by the government in intervention but decries limited funding in programming around child protection. Mugabi implored citizens to make use of the tollfree self-help line instituted by the ministry to report any form of child related abuses on 116. Child marriage is a human rights violation. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread: Globally, one in every five girls is formally married or in an informal union, before reaching age 18. This threatens girls’ lives, health and future. Victims and survivors see no hope returning to school but hope for vocational trainings to secure their livelihoods. Filed 27-28th Sept & Run 10th October, 2023