Capacity Building For Protection of WHRDs
This program aims at improving the safety and security of individual WHRDs and their organizations,increasing the capacity of WHRDs to detect, mitigate and respond appropriately to issues that undermine the safety and work of WHRDs. WHRDs in Uganda face adverse conditions to carry out their work given the context and history of neoliberal and patriarchal violence they continuously face. There rights defense work and resistance to oppressive systems generates trauma, impacts their Overall health and makes them vulnerable to burn out, greater harm and puts the continuity of their defense work at risk. Thus in addition, the program, aims at increaing the personal and collective capacity of self-care with a focus on the well-being of WHRDs, attention to and healing of wounds and traumas caused by violence and stress, and the sustainability of social movements. We believe that self-care and collective healing need to be considered as a key dimension of WHRD’s right to a full and satisfactory life, in their activism, and daily realities and as crucial tools within the FHP approach.
WHRDNU completed a 2 days capacity building workshop (3rd and 4th November 2022) offering practical safety guidelines for WHRDs at risk in Moroto at Seven Ranges Hotel.
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.’
- Mr. Robert Kotchani, Country Representative, Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, giving opening remarks.
- Brenda Kugonza of WHRDN-U facilitated a session on the UN Declaration for Human Rights Defenders in Entebbe.
- Panel discussion of WHRDs sharing their lived experiences of attacks for doing human rights work, during the training in Enttebbe
- During the meeting at Entebbe, on 9th July, 2019, Dr Partricia Achan, Commissioner of Uganda Human Rights Commission, noted structural discrimination against women human rights defenders and deep rooted stereo types that affect WHRDs.
Central Region WHRDs training in Kampala District
Self Care, Wellbeing and Collective Healing Capacity building Workshop August 11th-14th,2020
- Women HRDs read Self Healing and Wellness messages
- Group photo of Women HRDs with Dr Linda Birungi.
- Launch of a new culture of activism that is rooted in Practical Self-Care and mutual support as a necessary condition of Women’s movement in Uganda.
- Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda group photo