Kampala, (UG):- Uganda remains committed to fostering peace and stability, both within our borders and in the region, Gender minister Hon Betty Amongi has assured the country.
“As a country that has experienced its own history of conflict, Uganda knows the value of peace and the importance of creating conditions where young people, especially girls, can thrive,” Hon Amongi said at the launch of the girls report at Plan International office in Kololo.
The Minister said that girls who find themselves caught in the horrors of conflict, displaced from homes, and facing unimaginable challenges, should know that they are not forgotten. “Your strength, resilience, and courage are the foundation upon which peace and progress will be built.”
She added; “Education, safety, and opportunity will come, and Uganda is committed to ensuring that you have access to these essentials.”
“Your dreams and aspirations are just as valid and attainable as those of any young person, and we will continue to fight for a world where you can realize them.”
According to Amongi, the state of the girls` report showed that 27% of girls in conflict zones experience sexual violence and that 53% of young people have had their education disrupted mirrors the situation in Uganda.
Uganda according to Amongi is home to over 1.5 million refugees, the highest number in Africa, primarily from conflict-affected areas. “While Uganda has maintained an open-door policy, the sheer scale of this refugee population presents significant challenges, particularly for survivors of conflict,” she said.
She said Girls and young women in refugee settlements are vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence, exploitation, and abuse and that the findings of the State of the World’s Girls Report resonate with Uganda’s experience.
“Refugee girls face unique threats, including child marriage, sexual violence, and early pregnancy issues exacerbated by the lack of access to education, healthcare, and protection.”
Amongi stressed that this violence further marginalizes them, isolating them from education and employment opportunities and that many young women find themselves trapped in cycles of poverty, dependency, and trauma, compounded by the lack of secure housing and limited access to essential services.
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