Increased GBV cases in Acholi concern religious leaders
They say has contributed to the loss of life, divorce, separation, family breakdown, orphan-hood, and suffering of innocent children.
By Christopher Nyeko
Gulu: Religious leaders in Acholi, under their umbrella body, the Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI), have expressed concern about increasing cases of gender-based violence (GBV) among the people in the Acholi sub-region.
The concerns came out in their joint end-of-year statement, which was read by their chairperson, Most Reverend His Grace Dr. John Baptist Odama, who is also the Gulu archdiocese bishop.
ARLPI notices that gender-based violence has been rampant in the country and Acholi subregion in 2023, something they say has contributed to the loss of life, divorce, separation, family breakdown, orphanhood, and suffering of innocent children.
According to ARLPI, GBV also led to increased poverty and the diversion of resources that would have been used for other developments to address the effect of GBV.
The religious organization, in their statement, encourages the family to embrace love, love quoting that “when you love one another, you cannot think of being violent against the person you love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4–7, and Shaura 4:34, respectively.
ARLPI, however, urged the law enforcers to hold the perpetrators of GBV accountable as a deterrent measure to ending gender-based violence and ensuring justice for the victims of gender violence.
Meanwhile, other religious leaders were also encouraged by ARLPI to fight GBV by condemning GBV in their daily summons and preaching, thus advocating for justice for the victim.
Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person because of that person’s gender or violence that affects people of a particular gender disproportionately.
In 2023, the Gulu district probation department registered a total of 1917 cases of GBV.
Anena Jessica, the Gulu district senior probation officer, attributed high cases of GBV in Gulu to poverty, having extramarital affairs, coupled with alcoholism and substance abuse.
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