Cultural leaders under their umbrella body, the Council of Traditional Leaders in Africa (COTLA) Uganda, have pledged to work towards ending gender-based violence (GBV).
They stated that they will strengthen the involvement of men and boys in shaping and reshaping cultural norms and practices and are committed to addressing harmful cultural practices that contribute to GBV.
In this year’s 16 Days of Activism, the prime ministers of Tooro Kingdom, Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, Iteso Cultural Union, Alur Kingdom, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu, Inzu Ya Masaaba, Obundingiya Bwa Bamba, Obwenengo Bwa Bugwe, Buruuli Cultural Institution, Lango Cultural Institution, Kumam Cultural Heritage, and Sebei Cultural Institute committed to identifying, publicizing, and raising awareness of the positive cultural resources in their communities that support the enrollment and retention of children in schools, particularly girls.
According to the cultural leaders, this will be achieved through community outreach programs, mass media, traditional and cultural events, the promotion of positive parenting practices, and other initiatives that highlight the value of education for all children.
“Every girl child has a right to access quality education free from discrimination, violence, and cultural barriers. Any actions by parents, teachers, guardians, or relatives that hinder opportunities for the girl-child to attend school shall be brought to book,” the cultural leaders stated.
They emphasized their commitment to supporting and promoting children’s education, with a particular focus on girls in their communities, recognizing the unique challenges girls face in accessing and completing education.
The cultural leaders also pledged to collaborate with other stakeholders to create a supportive environment for school-going girls by addressing early warning signs of dropout and providing mentorship to young people using available traditional learning spaces.
“We shall identify, publicize, and raise awareness of the positive cultural resources in our communities to support the enrollment and retention of children in schools, particularly girls, through community outreach programs, mass media, traditional and cultural events,” they said.
The leaders further pledged to work with other stakeholders, including the government, civil society organizations, the private sector, and development partners, to collectively pool resources and expertise in promoting the positive aspects of their cultures that support child education, especially for the girl-child.
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