About The 7th National Girl Summit 2024 By Girls Not Brides Uganda, in Partnership with Member Organizations: A Milestone in the Fight Against Child Marriage
Uganda ranks 16th Globally in Child Marriage prevalence, with approximately 34% of girls married before the age of 18. This alarming statistic underscores the urgent need for collective action to address this complex issue. The recently concluded 7th National Girl Summit, organized by Girls Not Brides Uganda, was a groundbreaking event that brought together Hundreds of Delegates from diverse backgrounds. The summit’s theme, “Fostering Lifelong Learning Opportunities for All Girls,” highlighted the importance of Education in Empowering Girls and Ending Child Marriage.
The event was remarkable for several reasons. Firstly, it marked the first physical attendance of the Girls Not Brides Global Office Team, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the Ugandan partnership. Secondly, the Summit was organized by a New Steering Committee of Girls Not Brides Uganda, which brought fresh energy and new ideas to the National Partnership. This new leadership injected enthusiasm and innovation into the summit, making it a truly unforgettable experience.
Notably as an organization, we were honored to be part of the New Steering Committee, and we played an active role in supporting the Processes and Success of the 7th National Girl Summit. Our Team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the smooth Execution of the Event, from Planning to Implementation. We were proud to contribute our Expertise and Resources to make the Summit a Resounding Success.
During the summit, various stakeholders renewed their commitments to Ending Child Marriage and Promoting Girls’ Education. Legislators discussed the challenges facing the Education Sector in Uganda, including the lack of Resources allocated to Education, Menstrual-Related Issues, and Child Marriage. They emphasized the need for the Government to allocate more resources to implement the Renewed National Strategy to End Child Marriage and Teenage Pregnancies (2022-2027).
One of the most significant aspects of the summit was the platform given to children to share their stories and experiences. Child marriage survivors who had been supported to return to school shared their inspiring stories, demonstrating the importance of Education in helping Girls realize their full potential.
The summit also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share best practices and building partnerships to End Child Marriage. As emphasized during the event, together we are stronger in building partnerships and working with like-minded organizations to End Child Marriage.
The Fight against Child Marriage is Urgent, and Time is of the Essence.
Key Recommendations
To build on the momentum generated by the 7th National Girl Summit, we recommend the following:
Increase funding for Girls’ Education, Comprehensive Sexuality Education to Learners and Economic Empowerment Programs.
Support women and girls with Sanitary pads to break stigma around menstruation and promote their Good Health and Well-Being.
Strengthen laws and policies to prevent child marriage and protect Girls’ Rights.
Engage communities and traditional leaders in efforts to End Child Marriage.
Provide support and services for child marriage survivors, including Education and Economic Empowerment Opportunities.
In conclusion, the 7th National Girl Summit in Uganda was a significant milestone in the fight against child marriage. The event demonstrated the commitment of stakeholders to promoting Girls’ Education and Ending Child Marriage. As we move forward, it is essential to build on the momentum generated by the summit and continue working together to ensure that all Girls can realize their full potential.
#GirlSummitUg #EndChildMarriage
Note, The Time of 3 minutes is of the essence: In the time it has taken you to read this Article, 69 girls have already been married off Globally, highlighting the High Cost of Inaction. That means every 1 minute, 23 Girls are married off World Wide.
