female genital mutilation in Uganda

Uganda: government worried about increase in female genital mutilation

Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development has raised a red flag over the increasing cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The revelation comes two days ahead of the 16 days of activism campaign against gender-based violence (GBV) .

Addressing journalists at Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Tuesday, Ms Peace Mutuuzo, the minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs, said the pandemic and the associated control measures created a lot of anxiety, stress and hardships for many families.

“Covid-19 has worsened all the risk factors for violence against women and girls, including unemployment and poverty and reinforced many of the root causes such as gender stereotypes and harmful social norms,” Ms Mutuuzo said.

She added that the government is worried about the resurgence of FGM, which is on the rise in Kapchorwa District, and in Karamajo Sub-region, Dailymonitor reported.

Ms Mutuuzo said the Covid-19 rapid gender assessment by the government indicates that 13 percent of girls and 52 percent of women aged between 15 and  49 years are being subjected to FGM in the affected districts.

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