Again female genital mutilation (FGM) ceremony has been conducted successfully without any leader, or so called NGOs raising a voice. The Saturday Vision, 6th November, 2010, reported that 200 girls have been lined up in the districts of Bukwo and Kapchorwa for circumcision come, December 2010.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is a shame on ‘the pearl of Africa` in the contemporary times! .This practice involves the removal of all or part of the female genetalia. The remaining flesh (outer lips) may then be stitched together in a procedure known as infibulations.
And small hole that allows menstruation and urination remains after infibulations, both intercourse and child birth will cause pain and young girls that undergo mutilation will never gain pleasure from sex. Others die in the process!
The penalty for a person caught practicing Female Genital Mutilation is 10 years sentence in jail and one that causes death of the young girl in same act faces life sentence. Traditional culture is not a substitute of human rights, it is the cultural context in which human rights must be established, integrated, promoted and protected.
Human rights must be approached in a way that is meaningful and relevant in the cultural context that ultimately yields lasting peace among the people. FGM is typical cultural violence, demeans society members, and causes stigma and discrimination all that breeds conflict and eventually wars.
It is upon the state by any means to directly intervene, not just to cause impressions by passing bills and watch as nationals continue to be agonised each other in the name of culture. According to the Bible, the disciples sailing on stormy water mass could not hold, they woke up Jesus and he calmed the storm (Mk 4:39)!
Where are the religious leaders? What about the civil society? Please call at a loud voice and have Uganda`s future leaders get saved from permanent shame and damage. The actors should know that peace does come from violent culture but from the hearts of the people ready to cause peaceful decisions to change society. To all Ugandans, it remains rather a contention of naivety to boast of peace in Uganda amidst such gross violation of human rights.
Last Saturday in a new vision report by Womakuyu Fredrick (December 4th, 2010 P.3), it was reportedly a fulfillment of that promise the elders made to the whole world that they would circumcise 200 girls; 120 girls were circumcised, and only 80 of the planned figure escaped. It is a pity, more so that a big chunk of today’s leadership is pursuing rounds of terms of service to keep culturally enslaved Ugandans in a life-threatening practice (FGM).
Unfortunately, most Ugandans never care –so long as it is other individuals affected. In a peace session of 30 participants discussing peace and in particular FGM, only two said the practice is an acceptable; the rest simply condoned it saying it was a cultural right.
Even when one of the two participants –who expressed bitterness about FGM put it clearly to the best education of participants that FGM was as bad as cutting off the whole penis of a man, they were, still, not moved.
The same happened for a long time regarding Karamoja –when most people justified their way of life –probably as a source of national income –through tourism. It is a struggle, which either caring Sabiny people, if there is any, the media, or international community must commit themselves to and help arrest the situation.
Otherwise, Uganda’s unrepresentative government, nursing only their prolonged stay in power and economic greed, very unreliable yet determined to keep the status quo cannot be entrusted anymore with lives of Ugandans –as was evidenced by events that have happened over a period of five to ten years.
The Incidents like the cult mass murders in Kanungu in 2000 –in which over 1,000 members of the movement for the restoration of the ten commandments ignorantly, without prevention mechanism in place of any kind by the state lost their lives; the September 11th, 2009 riots in which 30 unarmed civilians were massacred by security agencies; and the July 11th, 2010 terror attacks –in which over 76 Ugandans were killed. And in all such violence, government either did not warn the population or received outcomes as breaking news.
The same report by Womakuyu indicated that the UN Fund for population Activities allocated around $300,000 for FGM activities, but, until now, there is nothing on the ground to report about. So we observe a marriage of harmful corruption and harmful culture giving rise to traumatic conditions, and throughout the years until now a nation with no value for life, or rather too cheap to feel the losses and destructions it.
Even the patriotic program being fronted by the leadership is only aimed at dividing Ugandans further only to add on the lasting effects of individual merit politics once concretized by the same regime. Now people have been blinded-folded by ‘another rap’ more new promises without questioning those whose dates to materialize are as Christianizing as the coming of Christ promise.
Now if the leadership fails to show concern about life threatening scenarios like child sacrifice, jiggers, corruption in the health sector, rampant robberies and simple murders in the outskirts of the city; and Ugandans too fail, who shall be take the responsibility to intervene and stop the nonsense? Do not get surprised when the jigger-affected people –who have won international sympathy accept status quo by electing the same leadership to keep around national problems by 99% vote.
But responsibility begins with the individual, but the Saturday Vision report by Womakuyu showed that even FGM candidates can be ‘irresponsible’ by giving in the risky practice. For example, Alice Chemutai –who gave in to FGM, and after it she said, “I am happy I have become a woman by being circumcised. I will be able to do what other cut women do. I will now be able to climb into the granary or milk cows, which I was not allowed to do till now” is a good case.
When the cost-benefit analysis is brought into play to compare such a statement and the life-long impairment of the reproductive system, the cost beats any such culturally-assumed benefits. These are the issues NGOs –especially with reproductive health and human rights components need to outline during sensitisation programs if any.
Unfortunately, reports show that there is nothing on the ground despite funds inflow to support those programs. Of course, government or health ministry must not be mentioned here if the FGM must be redirected and uprooted out of the mental faculties of the affected communities. It is already evidenced that they can not deliver.
The questions remain: what is the role of the law enforcement agencies or the obligation of government to its people? Who do the leadership represent, or the technocrats? Could they be representatives of animals or themselves? Where are the policy makers and technocrats? Can leaders and agencies concern account for the funds they receive to run health, security, and human rights programs? Where is patriotism and who does it serve? Should field media men and women involve police on life-threatening matters –as a more proactive press?
By
Richard Rurangwa Byamukama and Jacob Waiswa
Conflict and Peace Centre, Makerere University
Showing posts with label International Community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label International Community. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Sunday, January 4, 2009
WARS, TERROR CAMPAIGNS, CORRUPTION, POVERTY, GLOBAL WARMING AND OTHERS: SHOULD IT BE ABOUT BREAKING NEWS?
This is a summary of problems associated to man and his environment -where man's responsibility is key to save himself. To do so values humanist and ecologically-minded nature must be generated.
Human plans must not cheat on nature but get balanced with or to consider ecological needs and those for future generation. Our own actions must neither make us slaves nor other members of the eco-system.
The headlines news papers put to us can be sickening. Sometimes one could be forced to bury his or her head in the sand to avoid watching or looking at them and/or miseries surrounding the globe.
Misery continues to chock as more problems create more problems. Indeed, very few to note could choose healthy behaviors or come out with a proactive plans that step-by-step might solve personal and/or community problems.
Many would resort to drinking alcohol and illegal drug use, abusing their spouses and children or even killing, or make killing a hobby, and form survival cults or sects yet extreme in their values -most of which being psychopathological -showing signs of a long history of misery and/or violence to self and others.
However, a section that would choose to spend time watching premier-league, champions' league or other soccer leagues should not be left out as one way of burying heads in the sand people sometime opt for -much as it is non-violent.
Definitely, it would not be surprising if a formally abused or traumatized by others injurious actions too became abusive to others. There would be a compensatory element -to feel some form justice granted or “life balance” -through injury and then recovery. One thus, could choose to recover through harming others or vengeance.
Plans must be created upon sensing humanly threatening problems, and actions immediately taken -first; by the action initiator through group formations to later form community perception and engagement. Gladly, many humanitarian initiatives have emerged from spirited and courageous global citizens -as observable on facebook and other sites or blogs. These must be strengthened.
Besides, mere writing down the genesis of one's troubles could help create very big difference in an individual or whoever does so. The differences could be in form of resuscitated energy, self-discovery, gained self esteem and confidence.
With the energy got, individuals would be encouraged to form or share and action-plan to pursue. Any thought or plan to create positive change can therefore, not be under-estimated since that alone provides the beginning -which of course; is most important.
Sustaining action, however, is another. This would be characterized by off and on the “track.” But undying vision could, nevertheless bring hope and later re-ignition of actions for positive global change.
Resilience studies have showed that such (resilience) is well; born, sustained by community but also a process started, and a struggle -whose positive results tend to be gradual, in bits or once in a long time.
The focus could then be; belief or faith that sustains actions. That (belief or faith), simply must be kept burning. Without pushing much far, why shouldn't we pick Barrack Obama as a model here? He used faith to steer his vision to success.
Actions must start now rather than later to help ourselves and environment in totality since the more we continue to watch, the more bad fate watches us instead.
All we have to do is begin with the nearest resources at our disposal -which is ourselves -may be our hobbies and interests as medium for channeling important messages, creating positive social causes and pursuing them as long as life allows.
The implication might be that all institutions would be penetrated and injected with awareness of human challenges and positive actions to work on. From one individual showing concern in a locality, we could create a new peaceful, environmentally-mindful and cooperative community in search of goodness and natural rights.
For impact realization or just an action, we must seek support, cry out if need arises, seek partners, create new positive and supportive relationships, break into closed -yet helpful social systems -as decisions we should never tire acting on.
Individual values must be carefully considered and projected to help save lives, protect nature from degradation and cause a smile to the lives of many, or helping to share individual successes with those in the process of self-liberation as well as the physically and mentally handicapped.
As a community with a common destiny and related struggles as being channeled to goodness of living, we ought to do and show love, care and support for one another. This would be the single way to defeat terror, nazi-like tendencies in families and communities as well as the could be “normal” challenges of life.
They ought to be guided with such values as long as they live. In case of death, let it me for goodness of self and others, rather than seeking to suffocate others out of life for some form of gratification.
And of course, too, where there is goodness of thinking, intention and practice, evil ones or nazi tendencies panic, get humiliated and weak. It is such a line that we could only nurture in ourselves. Believable peace and harmony belongs to such persons.
The beginning of trouble would always come from the kind of thoughts we invest in ourselves through actions or relationships interactions -as with the intellect we use to apply them. In that regard, we must cease the chance now and as others continue to manifest, or hope that they would later.
Global citizens could perhaps consider about two to half day meditating over goodness that the World peoples should nourish themselves with. Such could help sustain energies for positive change activism.
But considering a community (ies) approach in all interventions, indeed, it would not only help heal wounds of individuals or reduce their vulnerability, but also make situations easier for them (vulnerable groups to adjust through. In fact, the same approach would be key in matters of urgency in as far as interventions are concerned.
Agreeably, with the rising and taking of individual and community responsibility, respectively -and cooperation in strategic planning and actions, or interventions -towards such human afflictions as wars, diseases, poverty, greed or corruption, famine -sometimes as a combination, we can help reduce damage whilst in a solid block working for positive global change.
Waiswa Jacob
Situation Health Analyst
+256774336277 or 0754890614
DECISION MAKING AND SITUATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT -DISHMA
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com
Human plans must not cheat on nature but get balanced with or to consider ecological needs and those for future generation. Our own actions must neither make us slaves nor other members of the eco-system.
The headlines news papers put to us can be sickening. Sometimes one could be forced to bury his or her head in the sand to avoid watching or looking at them and/or miseries surrounding the globe.
Misery continues to chock as more problems create more problems. Indeed, very few to note could choose healthy behaviors or come out with a proactive plans that step-by-step might solve personal and/or community problems.
Many would resort to drinking alcohol and illegal drug use, abusing their spouses and children or even killing, or make killing a hobby, and form survival cults or sects yet extreme in their values -most of which being psychopathological -showing signs of a long history of misery and/or violence to self and others.
However, a section that would choose to spend time watching premier-league, champions' league or other soccer leagues should not be left out as one way of burying heads in the sand people sometime opt for -much as it is non-violent.
Definitely, it would not be surprising if a formally abused or traumatized by others injurious actions too became abusive to others. There would be a compensatory element -to feel some form justice granted or “life balance” -through injury and then recovery. One thus, could choose to recover through harming others or vengeance.
Plans must be created upon sensing humanly threatening problems, and actions immediately taken -first; by the action initiator through group formations to later form community perception and engagement. Gladly, many humanitarian initiatives have emerged from spirited and courageous global citizens -as observable on facebook and other sites or blogs. These must be strengthened.
Besides, mere writing down the genesis of one's troubles could help create very big difference in an individual or whoever does so. The differences could be in form of resuscitated energy, self-discovery, gained self esteem and confidence.
With the energy got, individuals would be encouraged to form or share and action-plan to pursue. Any thought or plan to create positive change can therefore, not be under-estimated since that alone provides the beginning -which of course; is most important.
Sustaining action, however, is another. This would be characterized by off and on the “track.” But undying vision could, nevertheless bring hope and later re-ignition of actions for positive global change.
Resilience studies have showed that such (resilience) is well; born, sustained by community but also a process started, and a struggle -whose positive results tend to be gradual, in bits or once in a long time.
The focus could then be; belief or faith that sustains actions. That (belief or faith), simply must be kept burning. Without pushing much far, why shouldn't we pick Barrack Obama as a model here? He used faith to steer his vision to success.
Actions must start now rather than later to help ourselves and environment in totality since the more we continue to watch, the more bad fate watches us instead.
All we have to do is begin with the nearest resources at our disposal -which is ourselves -may be our hobbies and interests as medium for channeling important messages, creating positive social causes and pursuing them as long as life allows.
The implication might be that all institutions would be penetrated and injected with awareness of human challenges and positive actions to work on. From one individual showing concern in a locality, we could create a new peaceful, environmentally-mindful and cooperative community in search of goodness and natural rights.
For impact realization or just an action, we must seek support, cry out if need arises, seek partners, create new positive and supportive relationships, break into closed -yet helpful social systems -as decisions we should never tire acting on.
Individual values must be carefully considered and projected to help save lives, protect nature from degradation and cause a smile to the lives of many, or helping to share individual successes with those in the process of self-liberation as well as the physically and mentally handicapped.
As a community with a common destiny and related struggles as being channeled to goodness of living, we ought to do and show love, care and support for one another. This would be the single way to defeat terror, nazi-like tendencies in families and communities as well as the could be “normal” challenges of life.
They ought to be guided with such values as long as they live. In case of death, let it me for goodness of self and others, rather than seeking to suffocate others out of life for some form of gratification.
And of course, too, where there is goodness of thinking, intention and practice, evil ones or nazi tendencies panic, get humiliated and weak. It is such a line that we could only nurture in ourselves. Believable peace and harmony belongs to such persons.
The beginning of trouble would always come from the kind of thoughts we invest in ourselves through actions or relationships interactions -as with the intellect we use to apply them. In that regard, we must cease the chance now and as others continue to manifest, or hope that they would later.
Global citizens could perhaps consider about two to half day meditating over goodness that the World peoples should nourish themselves with. Such could help sustain energies for positive change activism.
But considering a community (ies) approach in all interventions, indeed, it would not only help heal wounds of individuals or reduce their vulnerability, but also make situations easier for them (vulnerable groups to adjust through. In fact, the same approach would be key in matters of urgency in as far as interventions are concerned.
Agreeably, with the rising and taking of individual and community responsibility, respectively -and cooperation in strategic planning and actions, or interventions -towards such human afflictions as wars, diseases, poverty, greed or corruption, famine -sometimes as a combination, we can help reduce damage whilst in a solid block working for positive global change.
Waiswa Jacob
Situation Health Analyst
+256774336277 or 0754890614
DECISION MAKING AND SITUATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT -DISHMA
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com
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