The\nDeputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has urged the public to promote\nfemininity and support the girl-child in order to impede the escalating levels\nof gender-based violence and other sexual offences committed against women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nDeputy Speaker said there is need to invest in the girl-child from the time\nthey are babies to when they are of age and ready to have children because they\nare an integral part of the society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oulanyah\nmade the remarks while addressing a UN Women region meeting on fostering\npositivity masculinity for gender equality at the Lake Victoria Serena Golf\nResort and Spa in Kigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWithout\nwomen, we would not exist because they contribute to life. We need to make sure\ngirls have a fruitful childhood so that they can grow up to control their lives\nand prohibit situations when they are looked down on,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nDeputy Speaker urged men to prepare for and support the growing influence of\nwomen in the world as they take over several leadership positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe\ntraining of respectful men starts from their families; when a boy is born into\na family where his father beats his mother or talks down on her, then that\nfamily is manufacturing a monster. If he is raised by father who shows\naffection and respect to women, then he will turn out well,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oulanyah\ncommended the UN Women for the dialogue and said it was the right and natural\nthing to do and because we are late to promote the idea of femininity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe\ntime is now for us to act on these issues. Women are being killed, beaten and\nharassed under our watch and we are doing nothing; women are still being\nmarginalised and objectified,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nDeputy Speaker said that children should be treated without extending bias to\ntheir sexuality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cChildren\nof different sex have the same capabilities and strengths. We should try to\nmake sure we do not glorify masculinity,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He\nsaid Parliament has passed laws to enforce gender equality like the Equal\nOpportunities Commission which stipulates that for the budget of a government\ninstitution to be passed by Parliament, the institution must meet certain\ngender equity requirements like staffing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The\nPermanent Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development,\nPius Bigirimana added that both men and boys need to be sensitised to realise a\nchange in the society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\nis unacceptable that some men think women are second class citizens who are not\nof equal value. We need to tell the men\nabout the dangers of things like gender-based violence and urge them to hold\nwomen in high regard,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bigirimana\nsaid that the Ministry is empowering women through a number of initiatives\nincluding the Women Entrepreneurship Programme that involves supporting women\nentrepreneurs and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also noted that through the Youth Livelihood Programme, the Ministry recommends that at least 30 per cent women make up each youth group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Parliamentary News<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Oulanyah, has urged the public to promote femininity and support the girl-child in order to impede the escalating levels of gender-based violence and other sexual offences committed against women. The Deputy Speaker said there is need to invest in the girl-child from the time they are babies to when […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27983,"featured_media":9453,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_paywall_metabox":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[98],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9452","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n