During the 50th session of the Human Rights Council held on July 1st 2022, Uganda presented the outcome of its 3rd Universal Periodic Review where only 54% of the recommendations given for review were accepted by Uganda and none of them were related to the protection of human rights defenders.
16 recommendations concerning civic space and human rights defenders that were offered by all regional groups
WHRDNU Executive Director Brenda Kugonza speaks during the 50th Human Rights Council advocating for laws to protect women human rights defenders in Uganda.
International Service for Human Rights recommends Uganda to
Adopt the Human Rights Defenders Bill and ensure it is gender-sensitive to give full force and effect to the UN resolution on the Protection of women defenders and the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders
Publicly affirm the legitimate role of women defenders and protect them from violations by State and non-State actors by acknowledging such violations and implementing security measures for them
Finally, refrain from criminalising the legitimate activities of defenders including women defenders, and repeal all laws and policies that restrict their activities and rights, including the Public Order Management Act, the Anti-Pornography Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, Anti-Terrorism Act ( as amended), and the Computer Misuse Act.
Women Human Rights Defenders network Uganda was glad to participate in the E-public dialogue in commemoration of the Anti-torture Day 2022 on June 26th. This day marked 10 years of the Anti-torture law since its enactment and was aired on NBS TV organized by Uganda Human Rights Commission in conjunction with Anti Torture For Violence.
Commemoration of Anti-Torture Day 2022 live on NBS TV
Panelists
Ida Nakiganda – Director, Complaints, Investigation and Legal Services UHRC.
Barbra Kawuma – Ass DPP in charge of Human rights
ACP Kusemererwa James – Head of Human Rights Development
Herbert Samuel Nsubuga – Chairperson CAT-U, & CEO of ACTV.
Panelists at the Anti Torture Commemoration Day airing on NBS TV
What is torture?
Ida Nakiganda of UHRC defined torture relating to the Anti-Torture Act (not in the UN Convention against Torture) as severe pain or suffering by either a public official or a person acting in the capacity of a private individual capacity for the purpose of obtaining a confession or information, punishing and intimidating an individual. There has to be an intention or purpose for which that act was performed.
This definition was widened to include state actors (law enforcement agencies, security agencies), private spheres of life eg GBV, and any other space that may not be formal or official
Samuel CAT started in 2005. We felt it was important to get together a number of civil society organizations to help improve the legal framework in the country that was not specific to torture. Together with UHRC, we started to, first of all, sensitize the relevant stakeholders (the key arms of government, security agencies, and the community).
In particular, ACTV is the chairperson of CAT, apart from the treatment and rehabilitation of torture victims, it helps us in advocacy, and developing medical-legal reports which are utilized by UHRC at courts of law for compensation.
There are still some challenges we face especially in terms of resources, and issues of the investigation by police (we have not had convictions that we are happy with as secretariat).
Why has it taken this long for Uganda to ratify any of these optional protocols to the CAT?
Ida Uganda has ratified the Convention against Torture (1987). However, there’s an optional protocol to that convention (UN OPCAT) which requires that there should be access to places of detention (police, remand homes, prisons, military places of detention). OPCAT requires that there’s a prevention mechanism at the national level but also there’s a sub-committee against torture at the UN level who are supposed to access places of detention here in Uganda if Uganda is to ratify it. I believe that since Uganda has justices of peace including the UHRC which has a constitutional mandate to access places of detention, there has been a delay in ratifying the OPCAT but I think it’s important to have a number of actors on board so that if the commission is not here, the sub-committee will be visiting and inspecting these places of detention.
Looking at the high need for proper documentation, UPF has continued to use the older form 3. Why is that?
James We are working with ACTV to do away with that because the older form has not been specifically directed to getting that kind of evidence. I hope in a little time it will go through. However, it doesn’t mean that nothing is being done (People have been prosecuted, people have lost jobs and people have been made to compensate others).
Why are criminal prosecutions against perpetrators of torture not common?
Barbra It is not that criminal prosecutions are not common. They are actually ongoing. For the period July 2021 to March 2022, DPP has registered 205 torture cases and 771 other human rights violations. We have the statistics of those that have gone through the system, and secured convictions for these cases with the help of ACTV.
Is there a process for awards and compensation of torture victims?
Ida Compensation is key for a victim of torture. It’s a way of repairing the injustice that the victim suffered. You can’t say you can get them to the position they were previously but it’s a way of helping them rebuild their lives. At the Commission, when we’re done with our investigation, evidence has been gathered and the matter has gone to the tribunal and the matter has been confirmed to be a torture case, the tribunal will award the victim compensation. Previously, it was paid by the attorney general but since about 2015/2016, compensations are now paid by individual institutions like UPF, UPDF, and Uganda Prisons Service (decentralization of payment of compensation awards).
Even before decentralization, there have been challenges in payment – when someone has been tortured, there are effects they are going to stay with for the rest of their lives, so it’s important that compensation is done in a timely manner so that this person is able to start rebuilding and make sense of their lives.
However, the attorney general is still actively paying the arrears. In the FY 2020-2021, the attorney general paid about a 600million to victims of torture and for the successive four financial years, the attorney general has paid about 4 billion to victims of torture. When we go to decentralization, there are challenges, the institutions say payment of compensation awards is not part of their budget so victims are made to wait for quite a long period of time.
The UPDF and UPS are making good strides in paying compensation but the biggest challenge is still with UPF.
What procedure does the UPF take when a torture case is reported?
James In most cases, 70% of victims prefer going to other organizations than to the police though still, these cases come back to us for investigation. When we get these cases, we start investigations by calling these victims back to obtain information, and a month ago, out of 200 cases that had been referred to us, 109 cases were already seen. Some of these officers have been convicted and others are on remand. The gap I would only admit is the accountability side of it especially to the public once the action has been taken. We however encourage the public to come to us.
As the human rights department, do you carry out investigations?
James No, they come to us then we channel. We may not have enough resources and manpower to do that but we assess the cases. Afterward, we refer it to the CID for investigation and subsequent prosecution.
What penalty does UPF have for fellow police perpetrators?
James As an institution, once you are prosecuted through criminal courts and you are convicted, it is an automatic dismissal. On top of other sanctions that the court may issue, we have our own
Who does a follow-up on these processes? Who holds the entire team accountable?
Ida We have been trying to follow up as a commission in terms of payments (mostly with the attorney general and several institutions) but there needs to be a focal point institution and in our annual reports we’ve always made recommendations that may be the Ministry of Justice should be that focal point to do the following up. So that when we consult them, we are able to know what is pending with the UPDF, UPF, and UPS, we make reports and share them with the Human Rights Committee of Parliament who will hold these institutions accountable.
As CAT, are you happy? Are the numbers going down? Is the process working for those victims you represent?
Samuel Unfortunately, we are still averaging over 1000 survivors of torture passing through ACTV gates for treatment and rehabilitation. In 2020 lockdown, we saw 960 survivors of torture. Since the covid 19 pandemic, we’ve not been able to access the prisons yet they contain over 30% of the survivors we have registered. Last year (2021), we registered 1202 survivors of torture. Torture is still prevalent and we are trying to advocate for a rehabilitation policy from MoH and because we are still the only rehabilitation center in the country, we want to see hospitals and health institutions to understand and identify torture victims and accord the specialized treatment. So far, we have had inroads with mental health and there are already trainings in that direction.
If DPP is averaging at 300 whereas ACTV is averaging at 1000, Is there a disparity, are there any challenges and why?
Barbra As Samuel had earlier on mentioned, many are not willing to report and follow through their cases for different reasons eg personal security. As DPP, we receive cases from police and we can only work with numbers that have been investigated and forwarded to us. That’s why forums like these are important so that the public can know that once they have been violated, they should know that the justice system is there to help them.
Is there a way to create a safe way for people to report?
James There are still challenges on that especially that the witness protection law is not in place. Without that law, it creates challenges also on the part of police because how do you create that environment for the victims to report? Do you have the protection mechanisms in place for that? The word “safe house” was vulgarized but initially it was for that purpose. We however try to find a way.
Does the court process allow anonymity in any way, even when we managed to protect the witnesses?
Barbra Mechanisms that can be put in place. The office of the DPP has the witness protection guidelines that our prosecutors are supposed to follow. If you are disclosing evidence to the defense, there are things you can do so that the names of the witnesses are not disclosed at that early stage until they get to court. Of course, this is an expensive process and if there’s no law that clearly provides for that, you can only do as much as you can depending on the circumstances.
When it comes to court, I think the criminal division of the high court have created an atmosphere where the victim (especially on child abuse, defilement) can testify without necessarily looking at the accused person. This however is not spread out yet because of funding. The human rights committee of parliament is trying to push for the witness protection law.
What is the process like for a torture victim?
Ida You have various options. You can go to the various institutions or UHRC to report your complaint, it will be registered. We are now going to a very important stage which is documentation (the collection of evidence – Key evidence is medical evidence). When a person is tortured, he can go to the hospital first and then come with the medical report (not the medical treatment notes). The report will entail the history of the person, what happened, the gravity of the injury they suffered and the impact of the injury.
As Samuel said, we need to build the capacity of our medical workers to efficiently and effectively document torture cases because most times its insufficient and it is difficult to present it before the tribunal.
Is torture different from any crime? Does it change when a definition of a person changes? For example; is it okay to beat a thief?
Ida What we have to emphasize today in the Anti torture day and those to come is that torture is widely condemned both in Uganda and at international level. It’s a crime that can never be justified because of the effects that it has on the dignity of the person. Even if the person has been imprisoned or is awaiting to be presented in court, they should not be tortured. Mob action too is torture and it should not be accepted in the communities.
Is torture a criminal or a civil act?
James Torture is a criminal act though you can get civil remedies at the end of the day. Now that people are getting more and more sensitized, people are going for more of the civil remedies because of maybe the compensations and the lawyers too see it as a short cut.
Is it okay for people to seek the civil dissolution of this criminal act or would you encourage people to come through the entire legal process?
Barbra The law provides for civil remedies but as players in the criminal justice system, we would want the cases to go through the systems. As Ida mentioned, Uganda is a signatory to some of these conventions and so, we are required to show progress that we have made over time. We encourage ACTV too to encourage their victims to come to us to report and not sit back home with their cases.
We’ve seen people come to UHRC and protest outside. Is this part of the process or would you rather have them do something else?
Ida They have freedom of expression but in terms of the formal processes, I think it’s better that they enter the office and lodge their complaint so that its registered and investigated. If it’s a genuine complaint that can be heard by the commission’s tribunal, they can get justice at the end of the day.
Are there actual effects of torture, or is this something we can continue living with?
Samuel There are physical and psychological effects. Physical effects are easily seen like bruises that can take like 2-3 months and go away but the psychological effects are not easily seen (someone can seem okay in the outside but broken inside). For example, we are still treating survivors of the Lords Resistance Army till now yet it ended in 2006.
On the psychological effects, we have the clinical psychologists and the counsellors who take the survivors through a number of over 10 sessions of therapy.
What would you advise is the best way to prevent torture from happening?
Barbra People should be alive to the fact that torture is a violation and it erodes dignity of an individual. What needs to come out to other masses is that there are other means of arrests, confining and disciplining someone other than torture.
To add on that, resources matter so much when it comes to law enforcement. Where there are lack of resources, there may be a temptation to initiate somethings outside the law. Eg before the advent of security cameras and DNA equipment, it was a challenge for people to get evidence out of the suspect and in the course of getting evidence at all costs, a temptation to use other means arises.
James The technological advancement that is coming into these institutions, many cases have been resolved by merely going back to the camera centers for review of the footage. We should advocate for all the players of antitorture to be supported and build capacity in terms of technology.
What would you rate UPF implementation of this law at?
James I think I would rate it highly. If we had to compare the situation then and now, issues may be there but what is the ordinary person in the streets observing? What is the police’s conduct now compared to then? I may mention figures here yet the people on ground are not seeing anything. I think because of the new laws in place, we have done a lot to professionalize our work.
Do you ever have any challenges as the human rights department of police with bringing any of the officers to book?
James In criminal law, we deal with the individual that has committed the crime. “Orders from above” doesn’t work anymore. We have been bringing down to people those sections of the law that talks about individual responsibility and so stop hiding behind people. The principle should be “You should obey orders from above but the orders should be lawful”.
Where do you feel we could do better as CAT or government when it comes to enacting this law?
Samuel We could do better in issues of reporting; because the law is there, simplified and translated into different local languages already.
We should include various hospitals especially the referral hospitals and institutions in identification, treatment and rehabilitation of torture survivors. This, we can do closely with the MoH.
JamesWe are on a journey but we are on the right track. Going forward, I think we need better synergies between police and DPP to understand torture more and give guidance to the officers.
Barbra Joint trainings: If UHRC or ACTV are to help us build our capacities, they should train us jointly (the investigators, the prosecutors, the judiciary). If we sit in the room together, we understand the challenges better, the guidance is even more and it prevents back and forth. At the end of the day, we have sufficient evidence that we give to court.
Ida In terms of prevention and prohibition of torture act, we want to see more people reporting acts of torture. We need to build mechanisms around this law to allow it to work including the enactment of the witness protection law, the legal aid bill. We would want to see more prosecutions, the annual crime report of the police force having more statistics on cases of torture they’ve handled.
Ida Institutions should put firm frameworks in place to hold their officers accountable. That’s why compensations were decentralized. We need more accountability for people who have been engaged in acts of torture.
Is there a plan to train people on ground on the Anti-torture law and human rights?
Ida UHRC has a constitutional mandate to conduct civic and human rights education so the trainings on prevention and prohibition of Anti-torture act is ongoing since 2012 when it was passed as a law. So, I think it’s just a matter of continuing with the training especially of new recruits that have been brought on board. We will continue engaging with DPP and the key actors to ensure its effective enforcement.
On 19th May 2022, Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda organised a regional cordination meeting for Women Human Rights Defenders in the Albertine region in Hoima district. The meeting held at Hoima Resort hotel consisted of 22 WHRDS from Hoima (6), Masindi(5), Bullisa (6), Kagadi(2), Kiryandongo (1). This meeting was held in line with the efforts of WHRDN-U to achieve a well-coordinated national feminist Holistic protection program and a secure working environment for WHRDs in Uganda.
WHRDS attending the Albertine regional coordination meeting
Objectives of the meeting were to
To strengthen local support systems to offer timely response to WHRDs under attack in West Nile Region.
To offer a training on how to fill the case incidence form
To understand why one is unable to receive support whenever attacked
Ms Beatrice Rukanyanga the district focal person welcomed everyone to the meeting and told all the participants to share and interact freely and made an emphasis that, “Human rights activism work is given from God and it’s in our Blood despite the fact that defenders are attacked every day, we still continue to defend Human rights. Individually we cannot stand but when we work as a team it’s hard for the community to attack and pin us down, we have to work as a team and support one another” She further encouraged members to carry out solidarity visits among themselves.
The district focal person Beatrice Rukanyanga giving her opening remarks
Remarks from Gender Officer, Ms Kabatalya Joyce
Kabatalya Joyce thanked the WHRDS for the good work they were doing in their different communities.She said there are very many cases of violation of human rights at grass root levels and was glad to see a group of brave women who are risking their lives to defend the rights of such people, she encouraged the WHRDS to continue with this good work and re-assured her support whenever needed. “I am ready and willing to work with you, the different government institution have to work with you and you with them so that to make a big impact in the community”
Ms Kabatalya Joyce giving her opening remarks
Poster presentation and dissemination of the online GBV handbook for WHRDS.
Posters were distributed to members and each one was tasked to pin them in their work places to help create visibility of the network.
Handing over a poster to the gender officer A group photo of WHRDS raising the online GBV handbook guide for WHRDS
By conclusion of the meeting, participants knew the different ways of strengthening the local support system in case of attacks, shared action points on how they would support one other and also learnt how to fill in the incidence forms.
On 26 and 27th May 2022, The Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda held a “ Creating Space and Time to Heal, Rest, Rejuvenate, Reflect and Connect” workshop at Essela Hotel, Kampala . Over 25 participants from different parts of the country and various social movements benefited from the workshop.
The workshop provided a space for Women Human Rights Defenders to understand their lives of activism. Different members had things to say about how their activism work affected their well-being.
They are dedicated, passionate about their human rights work, and caring for others while forgetting about themselves. The WHRDS said all this is making them burn out, the job of defending never stops, Not for Profit Organizations and Community Based Organizations understaffed, yet the lives of the people they served depend on their actions, the WHRDs noted working in the evenings, on weekends, skip annual leave and when on annual leave, they check emails-because they think if they ignore them, they will pile. To some, they have pondered about living their activism work to joining the business sector.
In the photo above, participants had a moment to talk about how they tend to prioritize the importance of their work before thinking of themselves
The workshop also enabled participants to practice self-care, thus empowering them to manage their health to take care of their own emotional, physical, and mental health. The many ways in which members practiced rest, rejuvenation, and healing included the following:
Group counseling session :
In this session, participants understood how stress and burnout could result from human rights work in Uganda. This session helped WHRDs prevent burnout and ensure their psychological security. The WHRDs noted that they suffer violence, harassment, discrimination, and criminalization, leading to burnout. This session used group discussions, and they learned tips to help them recognize moments of stress, feelings of anxiety, and time management
Simon Ndawula , a clinical psychologists and consultant leading the counseling session
2. Fitness session ;
This session motivated and inspired participants to sustain a healthy lifestyle, and it was to help participants get their hearts and lungs to work faster; it was a fun atmosphere. The session involved stretching, dancing exercises to help with the body’s flexibility, and muscle strengthening for the legs, hips, the back, chest, stomach, shoulders, and arms. Breathing work, the facilitator informed participants that breathing helps control the nervous system and that having deep breathing, even for a moment, can help soothe people’s anxiety and calm our panic.
Mildred Apenyo of Fitcliqea Africa, leading a fitness session
3. Nutrition, Diet and food.
Ms. Elizabeth Masaba, a nutritionist, helped participants understand food as our primary source of medicine. She informed participants that what we eat and drink affects our energy levels, our moods, and how and what we think.
Nutritionist facilitates a session on diet
She urged WHRDs to create time for food breaks. By cutting a cake decorated as a healthy eating pyramid, as an illustrate, she encouraged members to maintain a balanced diet and that foods make up a healthy diet.
Healthy diet for WHRDS WHRDs cut cake during self care workshop
4. Health benefits of massage Therapy for WHRDs.
Massage consultants enabled participants to understand that massage can combat stress and anxiety, increase blood flows to areas of the brain that associate with mood and stress regulation, boost immune systems, improve sleep, relieve pain and fatigue, etc. Trained massage therapists eased pain and tension by massaging the muscles and joints of body participants. Thus the, using different massage techniques during session this promoted relaxation among participants.
5. Conversations, Networking, Music and Dancing sessions.
During this session, it was a question n from the Urgent Action Fund for women “what is the point of a revolutionif we can’t dance?’. This platform allowed WHRDs to dance, and women danced. The participants recognized the health benefits of dancing as a tool to stay fit for all ages, is a great way to meet new friends, improve muscle tone, better social skills, and help the heart and lungs.
WHRDs dance during the self care workshop
6. Gynecology and women’s health session.
This session was essential for WHRD’s reproductive health. Ms. Birungi of Reproductive Health Uganda covered cancer screening, menstruation management, post-menopause management, and family planning. The objective of this session was to promote the health and well-being WHRDs by offering them information and improving their knowledge on reproductive health-related matters.
Dr. Birungi leading a session on Reproductive Health
Here are some of the ways in which WHRDs committed to practice self-care and collecting healing:
Take an hour for lunch break, limit taking office work home, and create me time
Minimize interactions with social media platforms, and go for regular medical check –ups
Go for a walk, and have a good diet,
Reflections from participants
Ataro Juliet of Women Rural Development Network speaking at the Self Care workshop
On 2nd May 2022, 22 Women Human Rights Defenders from the Acholi Women Human Rights Defenders Regional Network met with Gulu City Woman MP, Hon Aol Betty Achan at her community office in Gulu City. The WHRDs who came from Gulu, Kitgum, Omoro, Pader, Nwoya, Lamwo and Amuru districts.
Adubo Diana, one of the WHRDs in the region took lead in this session outlined the various Gender based threats and intimidation they face that in their work of of GBV, land rights, promotion of rights for persons with disabilities, journalists, children, LBQT, sex work. She outlined these Gender specific attacks that include;
Instead of producing children, you are busy loitering, stop messing up your life as a woman
Gender discrimination. People don’t want to associate with you in the community.
No wonder you are single, which man can stay with a loud woman like you. Women are supposed to soft spoken always.
I cannot marry a woman like you. You are like a fellow man. Women like you are not marriage material.
Baby hater(If advocating for family planning and safe abortion)
Exclusion from clan land ownership committees.
The meeting offered a great opportunity in establishing a working relationship with the MP and the Acholi WHRDs requested the MP to create a platform to engage the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee and her office act as a referral point to WHRDS to report violations they encounter.
In her speech, MP Aol Betty appreciated the WHRDs for their activism and support they offer in upholding human rights especially of all people regardless of gender, age and occupation. She also committed to create a platform to discuss their issues with the Human Rights Parliamentary Committee, the Gender Parliamentary Committee and the Speaker of Parliament.
The Acholi WHRDs also handed over a position paper and Human Rights Defenders Protection Bill to the MP.
Acholi WHRDNU Network members present MP Betty Aol a position paper
On 25th March 2022, 25 members of the West Nile Women Human Rights Defenders Network paid a courtesy visit to the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) offices in Arua. The delegation of Women Human Rights Defenders(WHRDs) was received by Kisa Daisy, the Human Rights Officer in charge of Investigations who handles complaint of Human Rights violations in West Nile. In her remarks, she stated
“We are happy that as the West Nile Women Human Rights Defenders Chapter, you recognise the work of the Uganda Human Rights Commission. It is empowered by the constitution to protect and promote rights of all in the country. That’s why in our report of 2018, we dedicated a chapter for women human rights defenders and specifically put in a topic on especially the women because they go through a lot. Generally Human Rights work is risky work.”
Kisa Daisy speaks to the Women Human Rights Defenders from the West Nile region
She further stated that she was glad to have met the WHRDs and this meeting was the beginning of a formation of a mutual relationship and connection between each other. She promised to involve members of the West Nile WHRD regional network in upcoming trainings and meetings that would benefit their participation.
“There is need for us to work together and have active communication amongst ourselves. This forms a bond of solidarity and also a protection layer where WHRDs aren’t isolated and easily attacked. And our impact will be felt in the West Nile region.”
WHRDs discuss ways of keeping in touch and working together with the Human Rights Commission
Rosemary Kyemba, a WHRD who was part of the delegation that visited said the group consisted of Women Human Rights Defenders defending Rights of the LGBQI, land and environmental rights and rights of indigenous people. She stated
“In our communities we are working in, we are working to promote the rights of everyone. In most cases WHRDs are attacked in different ways due to the nature of their work. We call upon you as the UHRC to always support us whenever we report cases and also feel your presence in the communities in the sub regions where we defend people.”
Rosemary Kyemba speaks during the meeting
Group photo of the West Nile Regional WHRDs with UHRC members
On the night of 24th March 2022, 22 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) from the Rwenzori region paid a protection solidarity visit to Female Sex workers defenders in Kabarole district. The solidarity visit took place at a Moonlight activity and comprised of;
Composition of WHRDS that made the protection solidarity visit.
5 WHRDs from Kabarole district (4 defending rights of sex workers and 1 Female Journalist WHRD.
1 WHRD defending rights of Gold miners from Mubende
7 WHRDS defending rights of gold miners in Katwe
1 WHRD from Ntoroko defending rights of victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV)
4 WHRDs from Bundibugyo ( 1 WHRD defending land rights and 3 WHRDs defending rights of the Batwa indigenous community.
3 WHRDs from Kasese district. 1 defending rights of the disabled, 1 defending rights of GBV victims and 1 defending rights of sex workers.
Expression of solidarity with Sex workers Women Human Rights Defenders in Kabarole
Challenges faced by Sex Workers Women Human Rights Defenders
During the solidarity visit, the Sex Workers Women Human Rights Defenders (SWHRDs) expressed concerns of challenges they are facing due to the nature of their work that include:
Threats from clients
Raids on their homes
Physical attacks
Police surveillance while conducting health outreach work
Threats to relocation from the area they sell sex after becoming known HRDs
Twenty three (23) Women Human Rights defenders from Karamoja region visited and stood in solidarity with peace mediators in Kotido district. The visit that took place on 18th March 2022 began with a meet up with peace mediators in Rengen sub county and later at Nakere Rural Women’s Activities (NARWOA) head offices.
Karamoja Regional WHRDS meet with peace mediators at Rengen sub-county
Solidarity visit to Peace Mediators at Rengen sub-county
The peace mediators have played a pivotal role in conflict resolution in the region amidst the disarmament process and cattle rustling grappling the region. The Karamoja regional WHRDS expressed solidarity and sisterhood with them, thanking them for the pacifying role they play in Karamoja. Despite continued personal attacks due to their work, the peace makers vowed to continue brokering peace in the region.
Karamoja Regional WHRDS express solidarity with peace mediators
Despite the ongoing psychological, social and economic attacks on their personal lives due to the nature of their conflict resolving work, the peace makers vowed to continue mediating peace in their communities and thanked the Karamoja Regional Women Human Rights Defenders for visiting and expressing solidarity with them.
The peace mediators at Rengen sub-county
Karamoja Regional WHRDS dance with peace mediators after their visit and expression of solidarity
Solidarity visit to Peace Mediators at Nakere Rural Women’s Activities head offices
Following the visit to peace mediators in Rengen sub-county, the Karamoja Regional WHRDs visited the peace mediators at Nakere Rural Women’s Activities head offices in Kotido. The visit, coordinated by the Ms. Aata Jessica, the Regional focal person of WHRDN-U in Karamoja began with her welcome remarks to the WHRDs visiting.
Listen to Ms Aata Jessica welcome WHRDS to NARWOA’s offices.
The peace mediators at NARWOA expressed their gratitude with the visit from fellow WHRDS in the region and called for more sisterhood and collective efforts in peace mediation in the region. They promised to continue supporting each other in their different fields as well as strengthen the network so that they aren’t easily isolated and targeted as peace mediators in Karamoja.
Karamoja Regional WHRDS express solidarity with peace mediators
Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U), in partnership with Civil Rights Defenders, conducted a two days’ workshop for 23 Women Human Rights Defenders from Kotido, Amudat and Kabongo, Nakapiriprit, Napak, Abim, Moroto districts. The WHRDS who form the Karamoja Regional Women Human Rights Defenders Network converged at Kotido Resort Hotel on 17th and 18th March 2022 for the themed workshop ‘Creating Safe Spaces for WHRDS, their rights and safety.’
Women Human Rights Defenders introduce themselves during the 2 day workshop
Workshop Objective
The 2 day workshop meant to strengthen the coordination capacity among the WHRDS in the Karamoja region looked to further;
Increase awareness among WHRDs on their rights and their safety.
To celebrate the struggles of women and help WHRDs at grass root level feel part of the women’s movement for social justice in Uganda.
To improve their understanding and analysis of the violence faced by WHRDs and promote collective and feminist protection strategies based on their knowledge and experiences.
Create awareness on creating safer spaces for WHRDs.
Workshop Flow
The 2 day workshop began with opening remarks from the District focal person, Ms. Ataa Jessica Ruth from Nakere district. She informed the participants that she was privileged to have supported the WHRDN-U secretariat with mobilization and coordination of the workshop. She further emphasized the importance of Karamoja WHRDs coming together to support each other and that whereas WHRDs are doing human rights,they are vulnerable to attacks and smear campaigns in the Karamoja region.
Ms. Ataa Jessica Ruth gives opening remarks
Brenda Kugonza, Executive Director of WHRDN-U also welcomed participants to the workshop. She appreciated WHRDs who have resisted oppression, defended rights and kept resilient. She underlined the need for WHRDs to shoulder each other and acknowledge the contributions we are making in our communities even if we are from various social movements.
Brenda Kugonza welcomes WHRDS to the 2 day workshop
River of Life: Reflection on stories of activism
Brenda Kugonza asked each participant to draw a river on a sheet of paper which will represent their individual RIVER OF LIFE. Brenda explained thatour lives are never straight lines; the river will inevitably have some curves to it, some rapids, rocks and a few quiet spots along the way. Participants were asked to identify some important moments in their history of activism and place them along the course of the river, the moment when they first became concerned about human rights and the most significant moments in their history as activists.
Participants draw their rivers of life
Understanding who we are as human rights defenders
In this session facilitated by Ms. Asingwire Bonitah from WHRDN-U, it was meant to deepen the definition of a Woman Human Rights defender. The session enabled participants give their own understanding of who a human rights defender is.
Bonita Asingwire facilitates a session on Understanding who a HRD is
Participants share their understanding of who a Human Rights Defender is.
Participants further shared alternative terms that a human rights defender can be referred to as in their different local dialects.
WHRDS share their different terms and examples for human rights defenders
The ‘Flowers of our struggles’ We are part of the human rights movement
In this session facilitated by Brenda Kugonza, participants discussed the strengths and value of women’s movement and establishing WHRD regional networks, noting that movements enable women to use their collective power to bring change , speaking not as individuals organizations but with a powerful voice that cannot be easily isolated and suppressed. Each member was asked to write and name their stories of their struggles that they have contributed to the strengthening of the women’s and human rights movement.
Flowers of our strugglesParticipants reflect on powerful images that inspire their human rights work
The reflection on the photographs made participants feel that they are part of a movement beyond their organizations, groups etc and acknowledged the benefits and strengthens of movements as illustrated below:
My reflection on the pictures is that Women don’t fear to stand and speak against violence “Chepar Paulina”
Cecilia Dengel mentioned that women are fearless to demonstrate
Esther Toto mentioned that women HRDs are confident to demonstrate because they know their rights.
Rose Namoe mentioned that women’s movements show that they are brave to advocate for other people’s rights.
Maria Kiiza said that the pictures show solidarity amongst WHRDs.
Participant shares her reflection from the human rights inspired photographs
WHRDS dance and jubilate at the end of Day 1 of the workshop
DAY TWO
Understanding the legal framework for defense of human rights defense.
This session facilitated by Brenda Kugonza, was meant to review instruments that support HRDs. Brenda stressed that The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders in its preamble, fourth paragraph, defines HRDs as individuals , groups and associations contributing to the elimination of all violations of human rights.”
Brenda Kugonza facilitates a session on the legal framework for HRDs
The Declaration considers HRDs as rights holders and is an important instrument that can be used to lobby and advocate for the rights of defenders.
On March 8th 2022, 29 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDS) converged at Arch Apartment Hotel Ntinda for a breakfast meeting to commemorate International Women’s Day with the special launch of the Online Gender Based Violence handbook for WHRDS.
The emerging trends of online violence against WHRDS prompted Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) to develop a handbook that will be a guide for organizations and individual WHRDS to prevent and respond to online Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Objective of the meeting.
Raise awareness on online GBV concerns for WHRDS
Validate and launch a hand book for WHRDS on ICT GBV as a guide to strengthen awareness, provide tips on how to identify, document and report online violence
WHRDS introduce themselves during the meeting
WHRDS introduce themselves during the meeting
Ms. Janat Namuli the Rapid Response Protection Officer of WHRDN-U welcomed the Women Human Rights Defenders who came from Acholi, Karamoja, WestNile, Rwenzori and Westnile regions and wished them a Happy Women’s Day. She reminded them of the promise WHRDN-U made during online GBV and digital security management trainings held in 2021 to invite them to the validation and the launch and the day had finally arrived.
Janat Namuli speaks at the Validation and launch meeting of the online GBV handbook for WHRDS
Ms Peace Olivia Amuge the Executive Director of Women Of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) mentioned that the handbook was compiled after the online trainings with the WHRDS in 2021. She further mentioned what consists of the handbook
The different forms of Online GBV
Types of Online GBV
Root causes of Online GBV
Impact of Online GBV to the WHRDS
Digital Security Management
Existing laws and legal frameworks.
Peace Amuge speaks during launch of Online GBV handbook for WHRDS
Validation from WHRDS
Ms Bonita Asingwirwe from WHRDN-U led a validation session with the WHRDS where she asked for comments in regards to the Online GBV handbook. Below are some of the comments.
Rosemary Kyemba- The launch of the handbook is timely for us as Women Human Rights Defenders because it is now a tool for guidance on how we can deal with online violence. pic.twitter.com/6IDne7Gd0X
— Women Human Rights Defenders Network- Uganda (@WHRDNU) March 11, 2022
WHRDS give feedback during the launch of the online GBV handbook for WHRDSThe online GBV handbook being launched
Message from Brenda Kugonza, the Executive Director of WHRDN-U after the launch of the online GBV handbook for Women Human Rights Defenders on Women’s day 2022
Women Human Rights Defenders speak after the successful launch of the online Gender Based Violence handbook for Women Human Rights Defenders.
Women Human Rights Defenders celebrate and dance after launching the handbook.
