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Uganda Women's Movement Against Rape |
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The past weeks have witnessed a dramatic increase in the incidence of rape. On Tuesday 11th May, the Uganda women's movement came up and demanded that the government immediately put in place tangible measures to ensure the protection of women - and to ensure that once these culprits are caught, cases are fast tracked in the criminal justice system. Present were representatives from FIDA-U (who hosted the press conference), CEDOVIP, Isis WICCE, Florence Kirabira (Police Child and Family Protection Unit), and Margaret Sekagya - UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Human Rights Defenders. Other members such as AMwA, NCG (U) and several others also supported this process.
During the press conference, a number of issues/demands were presented, and the media was called upon to continue to highlight the cases of rape. Some of the specific issues the women's movement asked for are:
a) increased protection in identified hot spots - including Police patrols/Police Post, lighting of the Northern By pass (engage Ministry of Works and Housing). Other hot spots include Centenary Park Gardens, around Clock Tower, etc.
b) Specific Police hot line for sexual violence victims (similar to the Police Child Sacrifice Hotline)
c) Victims support- Emergency centers beyond Mulago (engage Ministry of Health), psychosocial support and access to PEP for HIV/AIDS Prevention.
d) Public and media engagement to change attitudes, perceptions and enhance reporting (CEDOVIDP engagement and training of the Media commended)
e) Engage UN Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women - she has requested for a visit to Uganda and we need to follow up on the government to permit her to visit.
A number of follow up meetings are planned with stakeholders including the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), the Chief Justice, and the Uganda Women Parliamentarians Association (UWOPA). In particular, the meting with the Chief Justice will focus on getting the Justice Law and Order Sector (JLOS) to prioritise sexual violence cases through a specific strategy that includes:
- fast tracking sexual violence cases
- having cases in camera as opposed to open court
- issuing a practice direction on sentencing in sexual violence given the ridiculously low and often biased judgements that judicial officers are meting out these days.
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