Video documentary: A Lingering Pain: Women and War in Uganda
Produced by Isis-WICCE, 2002. 40 minutes.

On November 25, 2002, Isis Women's International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE) launched the video documentary entitled "A Lingering Pain: Women and War in Uganda" in Kampala.

For more than 25 years, Uganda has suffered cyclic political upheavals, which have resulted in armed conflicts. As in all wars and armed conflict situations, women and children have been targeted and have experienced various forms of gender based violence. The documentary highlights a grippingly sad account of Uganda women war survivors who, despite the abductions, rapes and torture at the hands of warring parties, unite against the evils that degrade their humanity. The story of horror unfolds through bizarre experiences, from a young girl abducted and forced to kill, to Christine, who was set ablaze but miraculously survived, as armed aggression rips Uganda societies apart.

"A Lingering Pain" is a struggle of the female voice, which amidst the chaos and waste created by war, re-emerges with amazing resilience to challenge the greed, subordination, and humiliation characterizing many armed conflict situations on the African continent.

The documentary is aimed at raising awareness in Uganda and the Great Lakes region on the need to resolve conflicts amicably and to uphold the respect of women's human rights. The analysis provided by different experts is yet a strategy to influence policy makers to design appropriate mechanisms for redress.

The launch of the documentary was Isis-WICCE's opening activity during the 16 days of Activism as a campaign tool against all forms of violence against women. The launch was preceded with talk shows on radio and television broadcasting.

Radio Drama Skits

Radio drama skits highlighting the various violations that women experience during conflict situations, how this affects women's empowerment as well as the role of the community in peace building will be broadcasted on radio as well as presented in Luwero district (one of the post conflict areas in Central Uganda). The drama skits will be presented during the entire period as a way of stimulating debate on violence against women and challenging the communities to desist from acts that contribute to the escalation of conflicts and violation of women's rights.

Regional Exchange Workshop

The Isis-WICCE Regional Exchange Workshop on the theme: "Women Building Peace and Good Neighborliness in the Great Lakes Region from the Grassroots to Government" will run from 2^nd - 11^th December 2002. The workshop brings together women leaders in the Great Lakes region (Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda), to equip them with skills that empower them to actively engage in peace building and conflict resolution activities and campaigns.

The workshop will be held in Burundi in collaboration with the Women's Peace Center of Search for Common Ground; Bujumbura, Burundi. The training is scheduled during the 16 days of Activism to enable participants share experiences on the various rights abuses as well as coming up with strategies and resolutions that call for an end to discrimination and violation of women's rights especially in situations of armed conflict.

Contact person:

Juliet Were
Isis-WICCE
Email: isis@starcom.co.ug
Web: http://www.isis.or.ug/documentaries.htm

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Last update: November-27, 2002