Why Parade Our Girls Naked,Women Activists Task Police to Arrest Elgon Cultural Gala Organizers
By: Kyeyune Ali
On Wednesday at hotel Africana, the Uganda women under their umbrella body Uganda Women’s Movement on cultural activities has tasked the Inspector General of Police and all leaders from Elgon region to question and arrest all organizers of the Elgon Cultural gala that let young girls to participate in the cultural activities when they are almost naked.
Last week the video and pictures of young girls half-naked with their breasts painted white and their hips and upper thighs only covered with see- through banana leaves emerged on social media while dancing along cultural music procession in the name of exhibiting culture, which women activists named as the violation of girl child rights.
Miria Matembe, a member of Uganda women’s movement on cultural activities while addressing journalists in Kampala during the press conference said that women are concerned about such processions because they contravene the Article 33[1] of the constitution of Uganda on the rights of women which inter-alia states that women shall be accorded full and equal dignity of the person with men.
Matembe added that the objection of women and girls has proven to be one of the ultimate causes of violence against women and girls so this action of parading bare-chested girls is disgraceful especially as the country grapples with the spike in the cases of defilement, child marriage and teen pregnancies.
She has disclosed that police must come out and take action because so many people take such opportunities to violate the rights of women and young girls in the country.
She has also called upon all leaders especially cultural leaders to engage in stopping such acts that violates human rights amongst ladies in their communities and seek to abolish all customs /practices conducted openly or secretly that continue to dehumanize and sexualize women/girls.
In ugandan constitution article 33(6) specifically states that laws, cultures, customs or traditions which are against the dignity, welfare or interest of women or which undermine their status are prohibited by this constitution.
Section 7 of the 2016 children’s act States that “a person shall not expose achild to any customary or cultural practices that are harmful to his or her health, well-being education or social economic development.”