Kampala, Uganda | During the premiere of the documentary “Youth at the Crossroads: Sex and Climate” at the American Centre in Kampala, Reach A Hand Uganda (RAHU) urged the government and stakeholders to integrate sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) into national climate change policies. This call aims to mitigate the risks of sexual violence faced by girls and women in rural communities.
Produced by Sauti Plus Media Hub with support from the Hewlett Foundation, the documentary examines the sexual and reproductive health landscape in the Apodorwa and Nyamahasa villages of Kiryandongo district.
It underscores how climate-related disruptions, such as drought, have led to increased school dropout rates among girls and heightened exposure to sexual violence, as these girls often take on the responsibility of securing resources for household use.
RAHU’s Country Director, James Tumusiime, stated, “This documentary emerged from our community stakeholder engagements in Kiryandongo, Yumbe, and Kasese, where we identified sociocultural norms that pose significant barriers to achieving reproductive health rights, particularly for girls and young women.”
Through the documentary, RAHU aims to shed light on the consequences of inadequate legislation and limited access to SRHR services and information, while encouraging stakeholders to advocate for progressive policies on issues such as sexual violence and unplanned pregnancies.
In a subsequent panel discussion, Agnes Ssebowa from the Ministry of Health’s Adolescent Health Department highlighted the rising rates of teenage pregnancies alongside an increase in urogenital infections, which are exacerbated by poor menstrual hygiene and limited access to clean water in rural areas.
The panel featured Raymond Ruyoka from the Youth Advocacy and Development Network Uganda (YADNET), youth advocate Muyama Shaima Kemigisha, and journalist Canary Mugume. Ruyoka emphasized the importance of generating local data on climate change and disseminating it to rural youth through mass media platforms like radio to influence policy.
The event concluded with a presentation outlining specific actions for the government and stakeholders, including:
- Adopting a multisectoral approach to tackle climate change and SRHR
- Incorporating climate justice and SRHR into school curricula
- Enhancing data collection on the impacts of climate change on youth
- Strengthening community resilience and support systems
- Investing in youth-led climate justice initiatives
- Fostering global and local partnerships for tailored climate solutions.
