Women activists tell teachers to fight sexual abuse in schools

NORTHERN PROVINCE MUSANZE — Teachers in primary schools have been tasked to offer compulsory protection to school girls to avoid cases of sexual abuse which has been cited as one of the causes of school drop out.The call was made by Reseau des Femmes, a gender activist group, in a joint resolution at the closure of a three-day seminar on ways of combating sexual abuse towards girls in primary schools. The convention attracted members from the national women council, youth representatives, women and children’s rights activists, police and army from the district. Brigitte Mukashema, the coordinator of anti Gender based violence in the province, warned that cultural stereotypes which marginalize girls subject them to harsh conditions of violence like rape and early marriages.‘’Denying children their rights to education, good health and parenthood are forms of violence which should be fought from homes,’’ Mukashema said. Teachers were requested to work closely with the police to ensure that school girls are protected from cases of sexual violence.The vice mayor in charge of Social Affairs, Pascal Butunge, warned parents against polygamy saying domestic violence is bone out of big families.Parents noted that there were many cases of child labour and early marriages in Musanze, a situation which has led many children to the street. Ends