The National Youth Council of Uganda hosted a breakfast dialogue at Fairway Hotel in Kampala to address access to justice for young women and girls.
The meeting brought together youth council leaders at various levels and key figures in the youth women’s emancipation movement.
The dialogue focused on identifying and rethinking the major barriers that impede justice for young women and girls in Uganda.
Discussions emphasized continued emancipation, closing information gaps, and combating stigma as central strategies to improve access to justice.
Issues surrounding inheritance and property laws took center stage, with facilitators calling for reforms to address longstanding challenges in property acquisition and succession protection for young women.
Participants also highlighted the prevalence of gender-based and sexual offenses, particularly in rural communities, which disproportionately affect young women and girls and leave them vulnerable at multiple stages of life.
In his remarks, Osborn Turyasingura, Executive Secretary at the Secretariat of Special Interest Groups under the Ministry of Gender, reiterated the government’s commitment to improving access to justice.
He stressed the importance of strengthening legal aid, revamping Uganda’s juvenile justice system, enhancing rehabilitation programs, and fostering youth participation at multiple levels.
Daniel Ongom, Chairperson of the National Youth Council, noted that the breakfast dialogue is the first in a series of engagements aimed at developing a practical framework to promote the welfare and aspirations of young women and girls across Uganda.
