Ending Gender-Based Violence
Our Strong focus on this theme is on addressing the underlying factors of gender inequalities, especially towards Women and Girls of all ages. Our GALS methodology is scaled-up ensuring that women’s rights are at the centre of our programming while addressing the social hindrances to women’s participation in decision making over productive assets. Viable campaigns and actions to address Violence Against Women and Girls at all levels have been designed to benefit the entire community.
Our programming principle In ending GBV is designed to prevent and respond to rights violations, abuse, and exploitation of women and girls who happen to be the most pronounced victims. We focus on building the capacity of Protection systems, creating a safe and productive environment for women and girls at the family, community, and institutional levels. We rally stakeholders and key duty bearers to commit to ending violence against women and girls and promote social accountability.
Summary:
According to UNICEF, Uganda has the 16th highest prevalence rate of child marriage in the world and the tenth highest absolute number of child brides globally – 787,000. Customary marriages or informal marriages, where a girl lives with an older man, are more common than registered civil or religious marriages.40% of girls in Uganda are married before their 18th birthday and one in 10 is married before the age of 15. 11% of currently married 15-19-year-old girls are married to men who have more than one wife. A 2017 World Bank study shows that ending child marriage in Uganda could generate USD514 million in earnings and productivity.
OUR MAIN INTERVENTIONS
Ending child marriage in Uganda:
We work with key stakeholders in the communities that support mapping the risks that girls face that could lead to child marriage and develop systematic action plans with communities to tackle these issues from the onset. We empower communities to take charge of their efforts and measures of ending child marriage. Our community action groups support the monitoring and follow-up of families and communities to ensure that actions are done smoothly.
Supporting girls to stay in school:
Dwindling enrollment numbers of girls in upper primary and secondary school portray a growing exposure to challenges that contribute to school dropout. APPCO has, therefore, designed and implemented actions centred on supporting the retention and completion of at least primary education by these vulnerable girls as a poverty and violence reduction measure.
APPCO works with different institutions including primary and secondary schools to support girl’s stay in school and complete their education cycle. We contribute fees to some most vulnerable girls, purchase and supplies sanitary towels, soap, basins, buckets, Jik, etc. to ensure Menstrual Hygiene and Management (MHM) for girls in schools. We also purchase uniforms and other scholastic materials for girls to ensure they stay in school without lacking such necessities.
Community Advocacy on Ending GBV
APPCO includes a work plan that brings together various community structures (such as women’s organizations, youth groups, religious leaders, and others) to assist in the implementation of action points aimed at ending GBV. APPCO employs the community radio method to keep community members aware of existing support structures and violence response mechanisms in their neighbourhoods. This has proved critical in reducing the number of cases of domestic abuse and encouraging the use of case management services.
Our Achievements
