Nov 29th, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Join the 2016 International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
A Call for Support and Protection of Women Human Rights Defenders in Uganda
The term women human rights defenders (WHRDs) refers to women who, individually or in association with others,
act to promote or protect human rights, including womens rights.
Over time, WHRDs have supported government efforts by advancing rural womens economic empowerment through
saving and loan schemes and income generating activities as well as addressing sexual and gender-based violence.
They have contributed to post-conflict recovery through offering psychosocial support and trauma management;
documenting womens experiences of war; addressing womens war-related health needs; and monitoring postconflict programming to ensure accountability and efficient provision of social services such as health and education.
Women human rights defenders across Uganda are in essence, government partners and are responsible for a
broad range of development gains. Promoting the rights of women and girls is well aligned with the goals of the
National Development Plan and the dream of Vision 2040, Helen Kezie-Nwoha Isis-WICCE Executive Director
states. WHRDs have also sensitized (based on statutory and customary provisions) and supported women to enjoy
their property and land rights; their rights to access justice and dignified health service provision for women of
Uganda among others.
This years International Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs) Day (29th November), set aside to publically
recognise the invaluable work and contributions of women who promote human rights, comes at a time when the
need to acknowledge and address the diverse, often-unrecognised risks Ugandas WHRDs face is paramount.
WHRDs are active in the protection and promotion of all human rights including civil, political, economic, social,
cultural and in all fields of life including in the family and community, Cissy Kagaba ACCU Executive Director
As Ugandas women human rights defenders increasingly tackle physical assault, malicious targeting, office breakins, arbitrary detention, public backlash, resistance from opinion leaders and smear campaigns for addressing
contentious issues such as land conflict ; the political space, funding and support for womens rights work continues
to shrink. The UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders stresses that Each State has primarily responsibility and
duty to protect, promote and implement all human rights and fundamental freedoms (9 article 2).The provision in the
UNDHRD is reiterated in Article 20 (2) of the Constitution of Uganda which states that: The rights and freedoms of
the individual and groups enshrined in Chapter Four shall be respected, upheld and promoted by all organs and
agencies of Government and by all persons. The Government therefore has the responsibility to protect human
rights defenders and/or prevent any violations against HRDs, Said Perry Aritua, Executive Director Womens
Democracy Network-Uganda Chapter.
WHRDs often deal with resistance, lack of understanding and hostility from their partners, family members,
community leaders and state actors including the courts, the military and police. This is because WHRDs call for an
end to laws, regulations and practices that endanger their lives and limit their activism and resist systems of
oppression and those who enact such systems. Instead of being celebrated for their invaluable work, these women
face immense pressure to stop their work. Women HRDs in Uganda are more vulnerable and face additional risks
such as sexual harassment, domestic violence, conviction of moral crimes and threats against their children and
reputation, all because of their gender, Brenda Kugonza, NCHRD-U National Coordinator explains.

This International WHRDs Day, NCHRD-U, Isis-WICCE and African Great Lakes Human Rights Protection Fund
celebrate the activism, advocacy and courageous acts of resistance by women who promote human rights and
particularly womens rights in Uganda. Therefore we call upon;
1 The Government to strengthen performance of its obligation in protecting WHRD;
2 Government to prevent actions by communities, companies, individuals states and non state actors that
threaten , attack or try to hamper the work of WHRDs;
3 Media to highlight and advocate for the protection of WHRDS by reporting on and recognition of the work of
WHRD.
4 Police initiate investigations and prosecutions of the perpetrators of violations and abuses against WHRDs
to deter others;
5 The Judiciary to promote and protect the rights of WHRDs by properly and promptly adjudicating the cases
of violence of the rights of WHRDs and holding the perpetrators accountable;
6 The Uganda Human Rights Commission to provide responses to emergencies and issue recommendations
to government to adopt the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders within the legal framework of
Uganda;
7 Increment of support by Government of Uganda and other partners within and outside Uganda to the work
of WHRDs
8 Ministry of Gender , Labour and Social Development to educate citizens on the importance of the work of
WHRDs
For more information:
1 National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders Uganda Tel: +256 414 699373, Email: info@hrdcoalition.ug
2

Isis-Womens International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE)

program@isis.co.ug

+256-414-543953, E-mail :

African Great Lakes Human Rights Protection Fund , Email:hrdprotectionfund@gmail.com