Advocacy for gender equity: the case of bridewealth in Uganda.

Abstract

This article presents The UN Population Fund s (UNFPA s) advocacy intervention in Uganda; it is directed at the traditional institution of bridewealth and is intended to reinforce gender equity and equality in keeping with the UNFPA s statement on Gender Population and Development. Cultural practices in Uganda related to marriage and bridewealth put women in a difficult position. They are burdened by social economic and cultural conditions. Bridewealth involves payment in cash and/or kind from the groom to the brides family and results in a lack of equality within the marriage. To address this issue the UNFPA has organized several IEC and advocacy campaigns. These activities culminated in a 2-day Round Table organized in November 1996. The Round Table meeting addressed six priority themes: conceptualizing the issue of bridewealth the prevalence and significance of the practice its impact and legal significance changing roles in relation to the practice implications of the institution for the status of women and the family and youth perspectives. Other issues concerning bridewealth s negative impact on women were also addressed. Workshops on Reproductive Health Advocacy were conducted and a Task Force was established. The high point of these advocacy activities was the publication of recommendations to reform the law and the regulations related to marriage (including bridewealth) by the Law Reform Commission. This publication was referred to as the Domestic Relations Bill; it dealt with property rights sexual rights (marital rape) age of marriage (defilement) and inheritance practices (property female children and widows).