Photo Credit: Power FM

The first lady Janet Museveni yesterday launched the “National Campaign on Adolescent Girls” as Uganda marked the international day of the girl child in Mukono.

The first lady Janet Museveni lauded the government in celebrating the day of the girl child and this campaign will mobilise Ugandan families to talk about the children they bear into the world. It will also remind families and communities that education is not enough because the foundation for the first formative years can only be done at home, not through education, the government or even organizations like the United Nations.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Uganda, Ahuuna Eziakonwa-Onochie, said there is need to invest in girls’ health, safety and education because it pays development dividends. She says that investing in adolescent girls is one of the smartest ways to secure a better and more sustainable future.

It is one of the best ways in which we can contribute to the realisation of Vision 2040 Uganda – Ahuuna Eziakonwa-Onochie

The theme of International Day of the Girl Child for 2015 is: The Power of the Adolescent Girl: Vision for 2030. UN agencies, Member States, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders are called on to commit to putting adolescent girls at the centre of sustainable development efforts by making the following critical investments in their present and future:

• Invest in high quality education, skills, training, access to technology and other learning initiatives that prepare girls for life, jobs, and leadership.
• Invest in health and nutrition suitable to the adolescent years, including puberty education, menstrual hygiene management, and sexual and reproductive health education and services.
• Promote zero tolerance against physical, mental, and sexual violence.
• Enact and consistently implement social, economic, and policy mechanisms to combat early marriage and female genital mutilation.
• Invest in the creation and maintenance of social and public spaces for civic and political engagement, creativity and talent enhancement.
• Promote gender-responsive legislation and policies across all areas especially for adolescent girls who are disabled, vulnerable and marginalized, and victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation.