By: kyeyune Ali
The Youths who subscribe to the Youth Line Forum Uganda, a youth led organization have requested the government, upon closure of their 16 days of activism, tackling gender based violence to respond amicably to GBV cases thereby setting up a center for gender based violence across Uganda in order to reduce the victims .
The 16 days of activism started on 25th November and they made outreaches to homes and different groups in the society, including victims, perpetrators, community leaders and law enforcers. These talks allowed people to share personal stories and ideas on how to end Gender Based Violence in Uganda and in the entire community of Africa. This was made in a press conference at their headquarters in kampala, Leah Mugasa, the programs coordinator Youth Line Forum, representing the Executive Director of the Forum, Ruth Asiimwe, said that ” in their work, they advocate for both women and men but they have also included diversity equity, inclusion and justice for all, engaging boys and girls at the University, people in the community, informal and formal sector to ensure that in the fight against GBV all are involved.
During the 16 days of activism against GBV, at least over a thousand active participants online and offline, including women, men and young people have been sensitized and committed to being change agents in their communities, youth have also been empowered to take on leadership roles in fighting GBV out of the communities, Owen Rubunda, Youth activist with Youth Line Forum Uganda said.
As the forum, since most youth engage so much on social media spaces, “we have been active in making posters, sharing to youth for circulating on their spaces as they advocate the fight against GBV.”
The major challenges are the deeply cultural stereotypes, people fear to report GBV cases to police in fear of shame, children do not speak in fear of loosing support from parents, among others, he added.
Natasha Ahereza member with Youth Line Forum, mentioned that they are strongly imploring government to also take strong position as there are many GBV cases, but instead limited resources to support in funding these cases to meet justice.
She Indicated that according to the 2023 Police Crime Report, 14,681 cases of domestic violence were reported to police. Out of these reported cases, 1,520 cases reached court resulting in only 423 convictions.
Despite the government of Uganda launching the National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan in 2016 that is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 calling for elimination of all forms of Gender Based Violence, this vice of GBV continues to prevail in Uganda.
