UGANDA: ARU’s Secretary General Calls Consecrated Persons, Groups to Partner for Protection of Children

Sr. Henriette Anne Owino, FSSA

A Catholic nun has called on Religious men and women together with other groups within the society to team up and support the children especially the vulnerable who have been heavily impacted by Covid-19 pandemic.

In her opening remarks during a two-day conference themed, an indaba on a theology and practice of child protection in Africa in the times of pandemics, the Secretary General for the Association of Religious in Uganda (ARU) Sr. Lydia Apili Bwor underscored that through collaboration, the children will realize their dreams and inspirations.

“In the spirit of Synodality, Consecrated men and women, the Mother Church and other like-minded groups are all called upon to be prophet witnesses and give hope to one another during difficult times. In this case all of us are called upon to encounter and listen to the cry of the children and the youth, to provide safe spaces for them to share their fears, dreams and aspirations,” the member of the Little Sisters of Mary Immaculate of Gulu (LSMIG) told the participates from across Africa, Europe and United States.

She continued, “May the voices of the children and youth be echoed in the much-needed hope, flexibility, solidarity and the transformation that the children, youth and all of us would want to see.”

Giving reference to the philosopher Larry Mary who emphasized on elements of empirical determination of solidarity Sr. Bwor said: “Consecrated men and men together with the rest of humanity are called upon to a conscious identification with the group (children), share values and beliefs, be ready to show moral support, have common interest in the group’s wellbeing and have that bond of sentiments.”

On his part, Mr. Javila Guma Bariremwa affirmed that Covid-19 pandemic affected children in various parts of the world especially the girl child.

“It is true that everyone has struggled with the fallout of this global pandemic. However, it has had more serious consequences on some of the most vulnerable populations, in particular, the girl child has been among the most adversely affected and their well-being is under siege from all directions,” Mr. Guma who works with ARU revealed.

Sharing with over 100 participants at the two-day conference from 23-24 May that was convened by the Jesuit Justice and Ecology network Africa (JENA) of the Jesuit Conference on Africa and Madagascar (JCAM) in collaboration with The Africa Taskforce of the Covid-19 Commission of the Vatican Dicastery for the Promotion of Integral Human Development, The Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) and the Catholic Care for Children (CCC), Mr. Guma stressed that Covid-19 affected many dimensions of the girls’ lives including among others education, physical health, psychosocial wellbeing and parent-child relationship.