Maputo, 13 Apr (AIM) – The Canadian government is providing 13 million Canadian dollars (about 22.4 million US dollars) to finance a project in Mozambique to combat gender-based violence.
The project, named “Every Girl Can”, seeks to ensure that girls and women aged between eight and 24 can live free of any kind of violence, particularly gender-based violence.
Financed by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the project is being implemented over a five year period (March 2021 to March 2026) in three districts in the northern province of Nampula (Murrupula, Monapo and Nacaroa).
A sub-project is under way in the same districts seeking to ensure access to justice for 600 disabled girls and women (particularly those with hearing disabilities).
The sub-project is budgeted at 130,000 Canadian dollars a year, and is being financed by the Manitoba Council for International Cooperation.
“We are working on a population census to identify disabled children”, said Adelina Mutambe, gender equality officer in the NGO World Vision. “In these districts, it is expected that the project will cover at least 600 deaf children, in the first year alone”.
“There should be greater efforts by the government and its partners in creating instruments that can help collect and analyse data on disabled children”, said Mutamba. ”Children with disability or deafness deserve our attention because they are suffering from overlapping forms of violence, particularly because of communications difficulties, access to justice, and even lack of information about their rights”.
“We should be thinking of better, and more inclusive ways, to guarantee that these children can be protected against any form of violence, and enjoy access to justice, health, education and other basic services”, she added.
(AIM)
Cc/pf
