Certa Foundation Empowers Teen Mothers and Addresses Child Support Issues in Kayonza District
In a proactive move towards supporting teen mothers who have faced Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in the Murama and Rwinkwavu sectors of Kayonza district, on Friday May 31, 2024 Certa Foundation team, represented by Benon, Vianney, and Shaki, visited Komera our sister organization in Kayonza District to address legal challenges faced by teen mothers, particularly concerning child support and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR)education. During these engagements, the teen mothers expressed concerns about registering their children and hesitated to disclose the difficulties they faced with the fathers of their children who had abused them.
To delve deeper into these issues, Certa Foundation requested Komera to invite the young girls accompanied by their parents for a session aimed at addressing their specific cases directly. A total of 15 cases were raised during this gathering, with 10 brought forward by parents of teen mothers and 5 by the teen mothers themselves. These cases ranged from child support to civil status registration.
Certa Foundation team encouraged parents, especially the teen mothers to ensure they register their children under their names and social categories. This step is crucial to ensure that these children receive the benefits they are entitled to by the law. Additionally, the team reminded parents of teen mothers to seek justice for their daughters by identifying and registering the fathers of their children, thereby ensuring they provide necessary child support.
It was emphasized to both parents and teen mothers that the best interest of the child is paramount in any legal proceedings. They were urged to protect and uphold the rights of these children from their homes by giving them an identity, involving both parents in their upbringing, and ensuring they receive the necessary support.
The Certa Foundation team also highlighted Article 276paragraph 6 of the Law governing family and persons (2016), which underscores the permanence of this action after a period of six months, a period after which such children are entitled to the same rights as biological children under the Law specifically addressing civil status registration of children who are not biologically related.
Instead of assuming the responsibility of registering the children, parents of teen mothers were advised to seek support from justice actors like Certa Foundation and similar legal institutions to follow up with the biological fathers. This collaborative approach ensures that the fathers fulfill their parental responsibilities as dictated by the law.
This initiative by Certa Foundation underscores its commitment to empowering vulnerable groups, advocating for justice, and ensuring the protection of children's rights within communities.