Districts have been challenged to prioritise children’s needs adolescent friendly gender responsive and inclusive sexual reproductive health services during their planning and budgeting.
The call was made by Luuka Children during celebrations to commemorate the Day of the African Child held at Nakabugu primary School under the theme: Planning and Budgeting for Childcare and protection.
“As children we want to grow up healthy, educated and safe to achieve our dreams and full potentials. We therefore demand that during planning and budgeting whether at home, district or national levels, please prioritise children’s needs to secure and protect our future,” Nakabale primary School Children’s Advocacy Club presented.
Among the demands children petitioned in their presentation is the teenage pregnancies, defilement and early marriages that they say are perpetuated by parents who see the girls as economic assets and negotiate.
They also call for strengthening of laws for community protection systems to safeguard them from violence and exploitation, changing harmful community and cultural practices and above all provision of basic needs especially mid day school meals, scholastic materials and sanitary pads for girls.
Speaking on behalf of Development Implementing Partners (NGOs), Vincent Njeho the Plan International KOICA Project Officer rallied leaders, parents and community to listen, hear and respond to the children’s cry
“The future of children matters. Let us focus, listen and respond to the children’s inner voices for protection, education and empowerment and collectively fight off these vices of teenage pregnancies, early marriages and other forms of child abuse until we are all equal,” Njeho raised.
Luuka LCV Simon Wakaze pledged support to the children's concerns saying the government has adequate legislations only that implementation and enforcement is weak.
“We have designated structures with all vice chairpersons designated as secretaries for children, Plan International through KOICA facilitated the children’s by-law on child labor and teenage pregnancies and as local government, this financial year we have at least put provisions for children welfare to help them stay in schools and curb child labor,” the LCV revealed.
