Cultural leaders from seven districts in the Acholi Sub-region have pledged to work towards ending early marriage and gender based violence in the region.
The leaders made the pledge during a two day training by the United Nations held last week at Pearl Afrique hotel in Gulu town.
The training attracted 55 cultural leaders from the Acholi region which this year alone has so far registered 11,900 cases early marriage.
Acholi Paramount Chief, Rwot David Onen Acana II, who was the chief guest during the training said through his powers, he will ensure that the subjects desists from the acts that violates women’s rights and that of young girls.
“Most of these GBV problems are thought to be cultural yet they are not, but because it has been consistently happening people now attribute it to be part of the culture,’’ said Rwot Acana.
‘‘Many of our children do end up in early marriages because parents sometimes are involved in domestic violence and don’t take care of their children. It is its therefore our time as cultural heads to intervene and steer the community into knowing the rights of children,’’ Acana added.
The paramount chief said women empowerment is essential development since women form part of hardest working people in the community.
The UN area coordinator for Northern Uganda, Mr Cyriaque Sobtafo, said GBV still remains a huge concern in Northern Uganda, with many of the victims being women and the girl child adding it requires continuous attention by all stake holders in the region.
“Given the highly respectability of your positions as cultural leaders, you are at the center of these challenges affecting the community, as UN we acknowledge the important roles you play in promoting gender equality as well as girl child’s education,” Mr Sobtafo told the cultural leaders.
He also noted that promoting gender equality and ending child marriages will require a commitment from the local governments, visionary and exemplary leadership and support from grassroots groups.
“Our people have been in camps and from there they lost the cultural ways of life to the extent of losing respect for women and young girls. With this knowledge I have received, I pledge that I will ensure that I impart the knowledge to the people so as to stop early child marriage and GBV,” said Rwot Martin Otinga yai Otuka of the Lamogi clan in Amuru district.
According to Uganda Demographic Health survey (UDHS) 2011, 49 percent of women between 20-49 years old were married off before the age of 18 years representing about 3 million women. The survey also further estimates that 15 percent of the girls were married off by the age of 15.
