The Presidential directive to lock-down the Country upon the onset of COVID-19, was helpful in curbing its spread, but has impacted negatively on young girls. The well-being of many Ugandan girls is at risk with the increasing numbers of defilement, teenage pregnancy and early marriage victims. Young girls are many times idle, which predisposes them to sexual activity.
According to mini-survey findings in just 10 Ugandan districts, 2300 school girls (aged 18 and below) conceived and 128 married off during the lock-down. See: The New Vision Newspaper of 3rd August, 2020 at page 22.
Many times such girls are forced to drop out of school, and even leave their parents' homes. Some even commit suicide and the victims of early pregnancies risk major health consequences for the mothers and their babies; and these result in violation of reproductive and sexual rights of female teenagers and their right to education.
Seeing as Ugandans have managed to live amidst the pandemic with the death rates being on the lower end, I am of the opinion that schools should be opened with strict standard operating procedures to save the girl child the risks and consequences that follow from being idle at home.
The Presidential directive to lock-down the Country upon the onset of COVID-19, was helpful in curbing its spread, but has impacted negatively on young girls. The well-being of many Ugandan girls is at risk with the increasing numbers of defilement, teenage pregnancy and early marriage victims. Young girls are many times idle, which predisposes them to sexual activity.
According to mini-survey findings in just 10 Ugandan districts, 2300 school girls (aged 18 and below) conceived and 128 married off during the lock-down. **See: The New Vision Newspaper of 3rd August, 2020 at page 22.**
Many times such girls are forced to drop out of school, and even leave their parents' homes. Some even commit suicide and the victims of early pregnancies risk major health consequences for the mothers and their babies; and these result in violation of reproductive and sexual rights of female teenagers and their right to education.
Seeing as Ugandans have managed to live amidst the pandemic with the death rates being on the lower end, I am of the opinion that schools should be opened with strict standard operating procedures to save the girl child the risks and consequences that follow from being idle at home.
edited Aug 3 '20 at 3:36 pm
