Uganda Martyr's University

SWASA and BSDC Rubaga Gender and Development Take home Examination

Submitted by:
KIBIRIGE PAUL
2017-B24192-20013

Instructions:
➢ Answer the questions below
➢ The answers to both parts should cover no more than 5 pages excluding the cover page and the list
of references. Use the Times new romans font, 1.5 line-spacing.
➢ Each part of the question should begin on a fresh page.
➢ Date of submission; Monday, June 29, 2020.

Question 1:
a. Identify and explain the key gender and development concerns that have emerged at the household
level as a result of Covid19 lockdown (50 Marks)
b. Provide recommendations to the various stakeholders on how best to address the identified
concerns (50 Marks)
Question 1:

A). Identify and explain the key gender and development concerns that have emerged at the
household level as a result of Covid19 lockdown

Introduction

In December 2019 a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) emerged in Wuhan, China. By February 2020 the virus
had spread to over 150 countries across the globe, and as of March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization
(WHO) declared the outbreak a global pandemic. Citing concerns with “the alarming levels of spread and
severity,” the WHO called for governments to take urgent and aggressive action to stop the spread of the
virus. In Uganda, as of 15th April, 2020 had 55 cases but with no deaths, with the first case having been
reported on March 1511. Like many other countries, on 18th March 2020, Uganda responded by enforcing
a lockdown on the country as an emergency management plan to contain the spread of the virus up to 13th
April but again extended the lockdown until 5th May, 2020. This included closure of institutions of higher
learning, schools, places of worship, shopping centers and sand daily markets, among others.

Gender: The World Health Organization (WHO) defines gender as the socially constructed characteristics
of women and men, such as norms, roles, and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It
varies from society to society and can be changed. In general, refer to the role of male or female in society,
known as a gender role, or an individual’s concept of themselves, or gender identity. Gender is defined by
FAO as ‘the relations between men and women, both perceptual and material. Gender is not determined
biologically, as a result of sexual characteristics of either women or men, but is constructed socially. It is a
central organizing principle of societies, and often governs the processes of production and reproduction,
consumption and distribution’ (FAO, 1997).

Development: Development is a process that creates growth, progress, positive change or the addition
of physical, economic, environmental, social and demographic components. The purpose of development
is a rise in the level and quality of life of the population, and the creation or expansion of local regional
income and employment opportunities, without damaging the resources of the environment.

Gender and Development:

and Development (GAD) – refers to the development perspective and process that is participatory and
empowering, equitable, sustainable, free from violence, respectful of human rights, supportive of self-
determination and actualization of human potentials. It seeks to achieve gender equality as a fundamental
value that should be reflected in development choices and contends that women and men are active and
equal agents of development, not just passive recipients of development. Gender and development are
approaches focusing on the socially constructed basis of differences and unequal relations between women
and men, emphasizing the need to challenge existing gender roles and relations and recognizes women’s
and men’s contribution to development.

key gender and development concerns that have emerged at the household level as a result of Covid19
lockdown in Uganda include the following:

Gender-based violence

Gender based violence is a term for any harmful act that is perpetuated against a person’s will and that is
based on socially ascribed (gender) differences between males and females. A report by UNFPA (2010)
defined it as violence perpetrated against a person without her or his consent based on her or his gender
role, responsibilities, expectations, privileges and limitations. It is gender-based violence because survivors
are targeted due to their gender or roles in society; it is physical, mental, or sexual abuse – including acts,
attempted or threatened, committed with force, manipulation, or coercion and without the informed consent
of the survivor – directed against a person because of his or her gender in a society or culture. During this
period of Covid19, lockdown Uganda has experienced a huge rise in the cases of gender-based violence.

Sexual harassment

Sexual harassment is a form of violence that through a show of power intimidates, humiliates, and affects
another person’s dignity. This behavior is sexual in nature (physical contacts, sexual advances, comments
and jokes with sexual content, exhibiting pornographic material or making inappropriate comments) and
undesired; it is perceived by the victim as a condition to keep the job, or as one that creates a hostile,
intimidating, and humiliating work, home, and neighborhood environment. Because everyone is at home,
that is when children and women are more vulnerable to this act.

Abduction

Abduction is defined as unlawful kidnapping or carrying away a girl for marriage. In almost all cases rape
follows it. Parents tend to keep their daughters in school for fear of abduction, now that we are in lockdown
a lot of girl children are abducted and there way about are not known. Covid19 lockdown as increased this
gender issue in Uganda.

Access to education
A girl child is more prone to denial to online education as compared to a boy child. Covid19 lockdown
caused the closer of the learning institutes thus giving rise to online education, though this in most cases
has left most of the girl child not attending classes to the multitude of house work. due to most cultures in
Uganda boys are allowed to go to school while girls are initiated to learn how to cook, how to give care for
children and how to be good wives.

Child marriage

It is deep-rooted and widespread among Ugandan traditionalists, Christians and Muslims. It is a parent
arranged marriage between two families. It has a negative effect on children, families and the community.
Usually the girl is under the age of 10 Years. It is rampant in this period of pandemic because of poverty.

Rape and defilement

Rape: is defined as having unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent, or with
her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind or by fear
of bodily harm, or by means of false representations as to the nature of the act, or in the case of a married
woman, by impersonating her husband, committing the felony is termed rape. Defilement: The Ugandan
Penal Code Act was amended define defilement as having sexual intercourse with a person under 18 years
of age.

Absence of Gender Equality

Equality between men and women consists of equal enjoyment by men and women or opportunities,
resources and rewards. A crucial element of equality is the empowerment of women to influence and share
decision making about societal priorities and development directions. In most households there is no gender
equality, men tend to overpower the women as thus acting as superior to them. This has caused violence in
homes mostly during this period of Covid19. The pandemic has considerably increased women and girls’
unpaid care burden as they are now looking after children out of school and household members out of jobs,
at home. The higher and more frequent demand for water that accompanies COVID-19 hand washing
precautions exacerbates this situation and means that women and girls are spending even more time on
water collection.

Professional obstacles

The pandemic has had a severe impact on livelihoods because of the closure of markets, businesses and key
trading routes. The worst affected are those that work low paid, insecure jobs in the informal sector, which
tend to be women and girls. Of note is the suspension of informal financial groups such as Village Savings
and Loan Associations (VSLAs), which affects women and girls in particular, as they constitute the majority
of members.

Access to basic needs

Access to food is found to be a major concern, slightly more so for women than men. Urban and settlement
populations are facing high levels of food insecurity. Refugees in settlements are in a distinctly dire situation
because their food rations have been reduced and because they can no longer travel to host communities to
find alternative sources of food. Women in this case suffer more than men because of the new African
setting of family heads.

B). Recommendations to the various stakeholders on how best to address the identified concerns.

Below are the recommendations I would propose to the stakeholders on how best to address the identified
concerns above;

In an effort to end gender-based violence, I would recommend stake holders to;

Shifting focus from seeing women and other groups exposed to gender-based violence as victims to
seeing them as survivors, actors and agents of change with a strong focus on women and girls’
empowerment and agency.

Putting efforts to increase women’s political participation and influence in contexts of peace, conflicts
and another humanitarian crisis. Women have the right to participate on equal terms with men in
political bodies at all levels of society, including in peace processes.

Putting more Efforts to increase women’s economic empowerment that enhance women’s bargaining
power and ability to leave abusive relationships. This includes strengthening women’s
entrepreneurship and employment opportunities, improving women’s access to land and property
rights, promoting equal sharing of unpaid care work between women and men and encouraging
universal access to quality education.

In order to curb sexual harassment, I would recommend anti-harassment policy. Anti-harassment policy
explains what harassment is, tells all citizens that harassment will not be tolerated, and sets out how victims
and policy enforcers should respond to incidents of harassment. Anti-harassment policies should also set
forth a detailed mechanism by which victims can make complaints when sexual harassment occurs. Having
an anti-harassment policy does not mean that there will be no harassment complaints. However, having an
effective policy and procedures, coupled with anti-harassment training for all, will assist in preventing
harassment and support individuals who are being harassed to come forward and ensure that the problem
is addressed quickly and effectively.

Due to the existence of gender disparities in various aspects such as participation in political decision-
making and socio-economic activities and access to information, women are particularly susceptible to
damage from disaster. Therefore, I would recommend stakeholders to provide assistance based on a gender
perspective in respect of all aspects of cooperation on disaster reduction such as Covid19.

Promoting gender equality: Gender equality should be addressed across all measures taken in the health
sector. stakeholders must provide assistance on reproductive health and rights, for addressing gender
disparity in access to health services, and capacity development for women, in response to the particular
needs of women’s health.

Cooperate in the activities of the United Nations Active participate or contribute to the UN Commission on
the Status of Women and the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.

Promote women’s contribution to peace, promote cooperation with international organizations working to
build peace and with United Nations peacekeeping missions. Further promote women’s participation in
disarmament, peacekeeping, and rehabilitation/development processes in conflict regions, based on United
Nations Security Council resolution, which urges increased representation of women at all decision-making
levels for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts, and encourages the increased
participation of women in decision-making processes.

Actively cooperate and contribute to international humanitarian relief organizations such as the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF),
based on the understanding that women and children require special support during conflicts and disasters.

Promote women’s participation in policy and decision-making processes in, disarmament issues, and other
diplomatic policies.

Promote international exchange and cooperation at all levels related to gender equality, and enhance
information exchange and personal exchange directed at building peace and stability at the national, local
government, and NGO levels, to promote mutual trust and friendship across borders.

Promote cooperation and collaboration with NGOs between the government and NGOs, such as by
continuing to include NGOs in government missions.

Improvement of services provided to the public and other operations. Because the perspective of gender
equality is important, the Agencies must make further efforts to raise the social status of women through
sufficient consideration to securing active participation in development as well as the benefits of
development.

References:

Sex and gender: Meanings, definition, identity, and expression (2020). Available at:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363 (Accessed: 29 June 2020).
Gender and Development | PITAHC (2020). Available at: http://pitahc.gov.ph/gender-and-davelopment/
(Accessed: 29 June 2020).
European Union (2005), Glossary of Gender and Development Terms, in Toolkit on Mainstreaming Gender
Equality in EC Development Cooperation (Chapter 1, section 3). Available at:
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/toolkit-mainstreaming-g.

(2020)
Sida.se.Availableat:https://www.sida.se/contentassets/3a820dbd152f4fca98bacde8a8101e15/preventing-
and-responding-to-gender-based-violence.pdf (Accessed: 29 June 2020).