HAFT CAMPAIGN TO END CHILD MARRIAGE, AND EARLY PREGNANCIES
IN UGANDA

UNICEF define child marriage as “any formal marriage, or informal union, between a child under the age of 18 and an adult or another child”, and that “child marriage threatens the lives, well-being and futures of girls around the world”.

Child marriages often included some elements of force or coercion.

Child marriage is a global problem affecting millions of girls across the world. It is considered a human rights violation because it often deprives girls of their freedom, self-determination, education, the chance to learn skills and develop their personalities and leaves them vulnerable to a range of abuses and both mental and physical health issues.

In developing countries, like Uganda, little progress has been made towards ending the practice of child marriage. This is commonly caused by poverty, low levels of education, backed by cultural and traditional beliefs of securing the lives of girls in marriage for monetary gain, for sexual gratification, or as a domestic servant to help look after the older generation and bear children to continue the family line.

It is a problem that threatens to increase with the spread of Covid-19 around the world.

Efforts to stop the global spread of Covid 19 has led to school closures and the subsequent loss of education, a decrease in access to sexual and reproductive health information and services, a loss of livelihoods and a contraction of social support networks. These issues undermined strategies to end child marriage, and the reality is that COVID-19 is driving many families into poverty, increasing the possibility that children will be forced into early marriages.

There is emerging evidence to show that adolescent girls are being severely impacted by the pandemic and are experiencing an increase in discrimination, violence, child marriage and teenage pregnancies .

HAFT is keen to play its part in reducing the incidence of child marriages and early pregnancies and has embarked on an education and support campaign.

The beneficiaries of the project shall include: The girl child / young woman, parents and young men.

OUR VISION: To become the best possible advocator of the girl child and young women. To give them the information, tools and support they need to determine their own futures.
OUR MISSION: To educate all members of the community ( leaders and policy makers, parents, men, women, teachers, boys and girls) so that we achieve a zero early-pregnancy society.

ACTIVITIES

  • Conduct district-based meetings to create awareness about the project among the district stakeholders and community leaders.
  • Conduct mass awareness campaigns to support community mobilization
  • Visit both primary and secondary schools, churches , mosques, and other institutions to give talks and hold discussions with their young people.
  • Carry out health education camps and supply sanitary materials
  • Host radio chat shows to spread the message, inform and educate a wider audience.