Development partners urge government to adopt more affirmative action for girls

Development partners have tasked government to adopt and employ more affirmative action for Uganda's girls so that they are given more opportunities to fulfil their rights and potential.

The remarks were made on Friday during the National Celebrations for the Day of the Girl Child held at Kasana playground in Luweero district.

Cecilia Mukalubuga ,the deputy country representative UN women said the trend of keeping and confining girls to domestic work and early marriages is hampering girls' access to education.

She noted that in many countries, families expect their daughters to help at home with cleaning ,cooking taking care of young siblings and help on family farms instead of sending them to school.

“We should remove all the the barriers; structural barriers ,economical barriers,social barriers that stop children especially girls from fulfilling the potential," she said.

She said in Uganda and many other African countries, girls are seen as inferior to boys.

She noted that perception of many families considering their sons as the bread winners is wrong because there are girls who can do that if they are supported.

"We need to amplify our voices and stand up for the rights of these girls. Let's demonstrate the power that girls worldwide possess,"she said.

Per Lindgarde, Swedish ambassador to Uganda, urged the public to ensure that girls who have dropped out of schools due to teenage pregnancies and child marriage are given a second chance to go back and complete their education.

He noted that education has powerful impact on reducing child and early marriage.

He said girls with higher level of education have less chances to marry or have children at early age.