Theme: Recommitment, Accountability, and Resources: Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Uganda
As Uganda joins the global community in commemorating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence/VAW Campaign, we align ourselves with this year’s theme, UNITE: “Recommitting to Beijing’s Vision to End Violence Against Women.” This campaign offers a timely opportunity to reflect on our progress, address persistent challenges, and renew our commitment to creating a Uganda where every woman and girl can live a life of dignity free from violence.
The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign calls upon governments, organizations, and communities to stand together and take decisive action to protect women’s rights and ensure their safety. As the world prepares to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA) in 2025, we celebrate the progress made by various member states, governments, civil society, and women everywhere.
We commend the Government of Uganda for enacting GBV laws to ensure safety and perpetrator accountability. Uganda has made commendable strides towards achieving the BPfA commitments through the enactment of laws and policies that protect victims/survivors of GBV, such as the Domestic Violence Act (2010), the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (2009), the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act (2010), the Succession Amendment Act, the Employment Act, the Penal Code Act, and the Constitution of Uganda, which outlaws all forms of abuse and violence against women.
The establishment of GBV shelters, the provision of legal aid services, and offering psychosocial support to survivors are significant achievements. Efforts by urban and grassroots women’s rights organizations have amplified awareness and advocacy, catalyzing change at the community level. However, much more needs to be done, including financing and expanding these services to the entire country.
According to the 2023 Uganda Police Annual Crime Report, 15,184 people were survivors of Domestic Violence (DV), 10,792 of whom were female. A total of 249 persons were killed as a result of aggravated domestic violence; 95 were male and 113 were female. There has been continued maiming, sexual abuse and denial of property rights to women. The 2022 National Survey on Violence in Uganda conducted by the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) also found that Intimate Partner Violence (IPV), which is often a precursor to femicide, was at 45%, the highest being in Acholi region at 78%.
The statistics depict the persistent social norms, community apathy and low prosecution rates that continue to contribute to the prevalence of such crimes as they are recorded as Gender-Based Violence which is underrated and under-prosecuted as a seemingly lesser crime.
Challenges and Gaps
Despite these achievements, several gaps need urgent attention and resources if the BPfA is to be fully realized. These include:
- Limited Resources: Insufficient funding to implement GBV laws effectively.
- Slow Justice System: Delays and inefficiencies in the justice system hinder access to justice for survivors.
- Growing Backlash and Impunity: Continued abuse of women, cyber harassment, and domestic violence remain persistent issues.
- Cultural and Social Norms: Deep-rooted beliefs and practices perpetuate gender inequality and condone violence.
- Inconsistent Implementation of Laws: Inadequate enforcement of legal protections leads to survivors struggling to access justice.
- Data Gaps: Limited systematic data collection hinders efforts to monitor progress and identify gaps in addressing violence against women (VAW).
On this historic anniversary, we urge the government to recommit to the fulfillment of the BPfA commitments since its adoption in 1995.
The BPfA outlines three key focus areas:
- Accountability: Strengthen accountability mechanisms to ensure the full implementation of laws and policies addressing violence against women and girls.
- Resources: Demand sustained funding, especially as violence continues to manifest in new ways, including digitally.
- Recommitment: Encourage BPfA stakeholders to recommit to their initial political pact, taking stock of achieved commitments and identifying areas needing renewed dedication and resources.
A Call to Action for Uganda:-
Ending gender-based violence requires fundamental shifts in attitudes, resourcing, accountability, and recommitment from all stakeholders, including donors, governments, and civil society. These efforts require more than just words; they demand decisive action as follows:
To Government:-
- Strengthen Accountability Mechanisms: Fully implement and enforce existing laws, hold perpetrators accountable, and ensure survivors receive justice. Establish robust monitoring systems to track progress and enforce legal protections (ensure adherence to set Standard Operating Procedures for legal, media and health institutions).
- Increase Resource Allocation: Invest in comprehensive survivor services, including legal aid, safe shelters, psychosocial support, and healthcare. Allocate funding for public awareness campaigns to transform harmful norms and attitudes that condone violence.
- Ensure Inclusivity: Address the unique needs of diverse groups, including rural women, migrants, and women living with disabilities, ensuring no one is left behind.
To Civil Society Organizations:-
- Collaborate with grassroots women’s rights organizations to amplify their critical work and support feminist-led solutions to end VAW.
- Advocate for gender-transformative policies and ensure survivor-centred approaches in all interventions.
- Strengthen movement building to ensure transformative approaches that dismantle harmful gender norms perpetuating inequality and discrimination and advance gender-transformative changes.
To Community Members:-
- Challenge harmful norms and stereotypes that perpetuate gender-based violence through dialogue and community action. Foster safe spaces where survivors can seek help and healing without fear or stigma.
- Hold leaders accountable to implement laws and allocate resources to ensure perpetrator accountability.
To Individuals:-
- Speak out against violence and support survivors in your communities. Take individual initiative to learn and support others to learn about the commitments made under the BPfA and your role in ending VAW.
- Do not engage in violence or abuse of women and girls.
The vision of a violence-free Uganda is within reach, but it requires collective action from all sectors of society. By recommitting to and actualizing the Beijing Platform for Action, Uganda can uphold the rights and dignity of women and girls and create a future where gender equality and justice are not just aspirations but realities.
The time for accountability, resources, and recommitment is now. Let us join hands to ensure that every woman and girl in Uganda lives free from violence, fear, and discrimination as we join forces through the 16 Days of Activism.
LIST OF PARTICIPANTS TO ATTEND THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ACT COALITION TRAINING
- Raising Voices
- (CEDOVIP)
- (UWOPA)
- LANDNET
- Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)
- Bahai Faith
- Terrewode
- ACORD Uganda
- UGANET
- ActionAid Uganda
- Akina Mama Wa Africa
- FIDA Uganda
- CEWIGO
- COACT 1325
- NAWOU
- Memprow
- SIHA
- WEGCDA
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