Trafficking in persons is one of the vices that Uganda is grappling with.
Rural women are the most vulnerable with evidence of an existing market in Arapai Soroti district where girls are freely sold to traffickers like they are commodities.
Uganda is commemorating the International Rural Women’s day in Arapai to specifically address the vice with the locals.
Available statistics show that rural women make up over a quarter of the world population and 43% of women in the global agriculture labor force.
Unfortunately 76% of the women world over are extremely poor living in rural areas.
This year’s national celebration will be held under theme: “Rural Women’s Economic Empowerment through Savings and Affordable Credit.”
Government said celebrating the day in Soroti will amplify rural women`s voices and provide a platform for dialogue.
The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development said it is concerned over the emerging human trafficking where young girls are sold to the highest bidder.
The International Rural Women’s Day is commemorated to give platform for the rural women to raise their voices, air out their challenges, share their achievements and for stakeholders to give greater recognition of rural women’s contribution to development of their communities.
Gender based violence manifested through high levels of teenage pregnancies; child marriages, forced marriages, Female Genital Mutilation and trafficking in persons among others are some of the challenges rural women face.
Among the numerous interventions undertaken by government to empower rural women to enable them contribute effectively to household wealth creation.
