Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange

Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE)

Postal Address	P.O.Box 4934, Kampala, Uganda
Street Address	Plot 32 Bukoto Street, Kamwokya
Tel	256-41-543953
Fax	256-41-543954
E-mail	isis@starcom.co.ug
Web Address	http://www.isis.or.ug
Year Established	1974
Contacts	Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng, Director
Mission	Isis-WICCE, a global women's organisation in Africa, is committed to fairness, equality and justice in all human relationships. Using various strategies, including the exchange of skills and experiences, the documentation of women's lives, information sharing and networking, Isis-WICCE promotes the empowerment of women, and the flow of information and ideas leading to gender sensitivity and equal opportunities at all levels.
Geographical area of operations	International
Issues area of operations	Women's human rights, armed conflict, violence against women, media and information dissemination
Activities	Research on women and armed conflict, Training in the documentation of women's experiences in armed conflict as a tool for advocacy and redress, Lobbying and advocacy, Information collection, processing and dissemination, Networking, Setting up information units
Affiliation(s)	Gender in Africa Information Network (GAIN); African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET); Human Rights Network (HURINET); Women's HUman Rights Network (WHRNet); APC-Africa-Women; Flamme (African Sisters Online); WomenAction; African Information Society - Gender Working Group (AIS-GWG)
Target Audience	Women leaders, policy makers, researchers, individuals, women groups
Dissemination	Information on different issues affecting women On August 23rd, 2001, Isis-WICCE launched two research reports. "Women's Experiences of Armed Conflict Situations in Uganda: The case of Gulu District 1986-1999" and "Medical Interventional Study of War Affected Gulu District, Uganda" are essentially two parts of the same report. Part One recounts one of the longest civil conflicts in the history of Uganda and examines its effects on individuals especially women and girls, families and communities. The outcome of the findings of the earlier documentation necessitated an intervention as a way of scientifically analysing the consequences of war especially to women and girls. Part Two details a plethora of war related physical, mental and psychological malformations in just one of the over 30 Internally Displaced Peoples' Camps of Gulu (Awer camp), that were serious to warrant specialised attention. Copies are available in the Isis-WICCE resource centre at US$5 each and are available online from the Isis-WICCE website.
Additional Information	April 2007: Isis-WICCE Women�s Internet Caf� and ICT Training Center Opens As an initiative of the processes of the United Nations, World Summit on the Information Society and Commonwealth Action Programme on the Gender Digital Divide in Africa, Isis-WICCE has set up a Women's Internet Caf� and Information Communication Technology (ICT) learning Centre. The centre has received new and state of the art computers and is open to the public. It is a space where women and girls: can access the Internet at subsidized rates. can acquire training in the use of the computer and the Internet. can network and build their knowledge base on various aspects of their interests as well as research. Men as well are encouraged to utilise this space. Isis-WICCE has continued to initiate different relevant communicative mechanisms for women at different levels to empower them with skills in information technology so that they gain equal access to these technologies and leverage them for their empowerment. This center also aims to provide hands-on training for women and to enable them utilise modern information and communication technologies for acquiring information, participate in decisions affecting them, lobbying and advocacy. July 2006: Isis-WICCE Launches the �Medical Interventional Study of war affected Kitgum District�,�Training Manual� and Video - �Standing at the Cross Roads� Isis-WICCE is a human rights group that deals with issues arising out of war conflicts, as they relate to women, men and children. The role of the organization is to carry out action oriented documentation of human rights experiences. Its first study was in Luwero, and studies have since been conducted in Gulu, Kitgum, Teso and Lira districts. As a result of a study carried out, it was soon apparent that people in conflict areas suffer from so many more diseases that those addressed in the fight against the known killer diseases of malaria, measles, respiratory problems, HIV and TB. It was discovered that people suffered from psychologically related diseases caused by witnessing atrocities committed on known and beloved relatives. Again, due to the nature of the war in which people�s lips, noses, and ears were cut off, a good number needed surgeries. Others had normal problems but because of the absence of medical facilities in conflict areas, their problems had not been attended to resulting into overgrown hernias and cancers. Isis WICCE being an action oriented organization arranged for a team of experts in surgery and psychiatry to travel to Kitgum for intervention in the IDP camps of Padipe and Muchwini. It was funded by Medica Mondiale. The following activities were carried out: Specialists were requested to analyze the various ailments and give direct treatment to the people in the camps, Train health workers living in the camps to consider psychological implications as well as the physical problems when diagnosing patients. Training of trainers on the management of war trauma Onsite counseling and documentation of findings At the end of the exercise 44 health workers were trained, 992 potential patients screened, 119 surgical operations performed. A manual, video and report have been produced and were the subject of the launch. The manual contains questionnaires administered to the different categories of people in the camps. During the launch, members who took part in the study shared their experiences and findings with the participants while some of the beneficiaries of the exercise were brought forward to give their testimonies. The Ugandan Minister of state for Health, Hon. Richard Nduhura, thanked Isis-WICCE for the effort they have put in alleviating the plight of the people in Northern Uganda and pledged government commitment to continue where Isis-WICCE had stopped. April 2004: IT Training Announcement Isis-WICCE announces that the Information Technology Training programme for women and girls is registering interested persons for the following sessions; INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTERS AND MS WORD (starting the week of 10 - 15th May up to the end of the month) THE INTERNET AND RELATED APPLICATIONS (starting 1st week of June) Fee: Ug. Shs. 25,000 per package. Each session accommodates 20 persons. If you are interested please register with Irene Tusiime at Isis-WICCE. Priority is for women and girls. Contact: Tel: (041) 543953 Email: isis@starcom.co.ug Trainees will have free access to the Internet during the training period. June 2003: Uganda women peace builders to visit Kenya and Tanzania http://www.wougnet.org/Documents/IsisWICCE/womenpeacevisit.html A group of 45 women community peace builders from Uganda will visit different women groups in Kenya and Tanzania from 17th to 21st June 2003. The exchange visit is the climax of the four year (1999 - 2002) training that Isis-WICCE has conducted on conflict resolution and peace building. The aim of the visit is to enable the group express solidarity with women of other ethnic groups who have gone through violent conflict as well as other conflicts and share the best practices, mechanisms and strategies utilised in their localities. The visit will also enable the women peace builders to form a strong network that will instill a culture of peace in communities. April 2003: African women meet to discuss the need to document women's peace initiatives in Africa Isis-WICCE will be holding a consultative workshop on Documenting women's peace initiatives in Africa from 23rd to 25th April 2003. The meeting which will involve selected participants from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Sierra Leonne, S.Africa, Sudan and Uganda, is in preparation of the documentation of unique women's peace initiatives in Africa that Isis-WICCE is coordinating for the year 2003-2004. November 25, 2002: Launch of a video documentary entitled "A Lingering Pain: Women and War in Uganda" 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. 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. September 2002: Uganda Women Activists and Human Rights organisations Meet His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Nigeria over the case of Amina Lawal On 3rd September 2002, Activists from Uganda women organisations, and Human Rights organisations met His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Nigeria to Uganda Sam Edem. The aim of the meeting was to request His Excellency the Ambassador, to receive, on behalf of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Nigeria, a 3 page statement (about Amina Lawal's case), from various civil society organisations represented by about 40 activists. The group held a one Kilometre peaceful demonstration to the commission. March 2002 update on Isis-WICCE activities around the Critical Area of Concern "Women and Armed Conflict". (a) Report: Women's Experiences in Situations of Armed Conflict, 1987-2001: The Teso experience The Report covers the experiences of women in situations of armed conflict in the districts of Soroti, Katakwi and Kumi, which make up the Teso region in Eastern Uganda. It unveils the uniqueness of the Teso conflict which is multi dimensional in that it has an aspect of rebel insurgency and attacks by Karamajong warriors. The findings reveal pathetic, gynaecological, psychological and orthopedic situation. The report was disseminated at the district level on 21st February 2002 with the aim of: letting the people of Teso hear about the problems brought about by conflict and try to work together to resolve conflicts to enable the leadership in the districts, the research assistants and the communities to cross check the validity of data, as well as providing an opportunity to the district leadership to have their recommendations incorporated in the report. sharing the findings with the district team and other key policy makers for designing effective development plans. (The report in now in the final editing process and will be made public soon.) (b) Enabling Victims of Armed Conflict Smile again As part of the efforts to rebuild the shattered minds of the women affected by the armed conflict, Isis-WICCE in conjunction with a team of medical doctors have embarked on a medical intervention exercise in Teso. The intervention began on 18th February with a three day skills building training of locally based health workers on the identification counseling and treatment of War affected women. The screening of patients, treatment and surgery began on 25th February and will end on 13th March 2002. According to Doctor Otim, "the number of patients received is overwhelming and justifies the neglect, poor facilitation and lack of prioritization given to the health system. This leaves majority of citizens to live with pathetic ailments that are manageable". This intervention is just a drop in the ocean. Many women and children will miss this opportunity given the meagre resources. Any body who can help one more woman live a happier life can contact Isis-WICCE.

Last update: May-3, 2007