By UGAMEDIA
“Iam pleased to report that for the last five years of existence of the ICGLR, significant progress has been made in the search for peace and stability in the region,” Ambassador Mulamula told the regional inert-ministerial committee preceding the ICGLR Summit and Special session in Kampala, Uganda yesterday.
“However, these achievements notwithstanding, we are gathered here in this august body to tackle collectively the SGBV in the region has eluded us , the pandemic still persists and continue to undermine all efforts,” she observed.
Ambassador Mulamula called for more efforts to concretize the commitment regional Leaders pledged as stipulated in the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration of 2004 in combating, criminalizing, and punishing acts of sexual violence both in time of peace and war.
She noted that the Protocol on Prevention and suppression of sexual violence against women and children is an important legal instrument that provide solutions and address this protracted challenge of SGBV. The Executive Secretary particularly thanked Ministers in Charge of Gender from the region for their efforts in supporting ICGLR against SGBV.
“It is an indisputable the fact that Sexual and Gender Based Violence inhibits the ability of women to contribute to and benefit from development. It also limits them to enjoy human and peoples rights and fundamental freedoms in public or private life,” Mulamula said.
“The fear of sexual violence is even more heightened in armed conflicts areas. The causes and consequences of sexual and gender based violence have crippled human resources and skills development and constrained economic production and productivity,” she noted.
Uganda’s Deputy Prime Minister, Gen. Moses Ali, who presided over the opening ceremony called for regional efforts to stop negative forces roaming the area. He said, the negatives forces are responsible for perpetrating the violence against women.
The Prime Minister said there was need to train regional armies so that they do their work professionally in an effort to stop the Sexual Gender Based Violence vice.
The meeting also received the report from ICGLR Minister in charge of Defence and Security on the fight against negative forces in the region, following RIMC directive in Brazzaville in May 2011, that Secretariat in collaboration with the Member States organize a meeting of Ministers of Defence of the ICGLR Member State to deliberate and address the problem of negative forces in the Region.
Subsequently, the meeting was successful held on 9th September 2011, in Kigali, Rwanda.
She took the opportunity to extend her appreciation to RIMC for the trust, support and guidance during the last five years of discharging her duties as well as GIZ for its generosity and invaluable support.
Honourable Chishimba Kambwili, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Zambia and Chairperson of the RIMC addressed the meeting as well.
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