Uganda Christian lawyers launch GBV, anti-trafficking project in Arua
“Many of our girls are deceived from villages and taken to major towns under the guise of offering employment opportunities and education services to them, but end up being trafficked for other reasons and exploited,” said Tibanyendera.
Members of the UCLF with the stakeholders from Arua district and city after the inception meeting in Arua City. (Credit: Robert Adiga)
ARUA - The Uganda Christian Lawyers Fraternity (UCLF) has launched a project to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Trafficking in Persons in Arua district.
The project, titled 'Strengthening access to justice in Arua', with funding from the United Nations Development Programme, seeks to benefit women, girls and vulnerable populations that have been the soft targets of GBV and trafficking in persons.
Innocent Tibanyendera, the Director Programmes at UCLF, said this intervention aims to improve survivor-centred legal aid, access to justice and offer protection services to victims in Arua.
The project, which was launched with the inception meeting in Arua City on Wednesday, October 21, will directly reach 5,900 beneficiaries, including 900 direct beneficiaries and 5,000 indirect beneficiaries through community awareness meetings, radio programmes and improved referral and protection services.O
Tibanyendera said the project will work closely with local government stakeholders and structures advocating for the end of GBV and Trafficking in Persons.
Innocent Tibanyendera, the Director Programmes at UCLF, said this intervention aims to improve survivor-centred legal aid, access to justice and offer protection services to victims in Arua. (Credit: Robert Adiga)
He said the project's focus will be on women and girls, who are most affected by GBV and Trafficking in persons.
Martin Sabiiti Rwabihurwa, the UCLF chief executive officer, said over 500 Christian lawyers are lined up across different regions to offer free legal services to the survivors of GBV and trafficking in persons to access justice.
Bosco Okurut, the Regional Uganda Human Rights Commission officer based in Arua, described the project as timely, saying issues of human rights abuse have been of great concern across the region, including within Arua.
Doreen Drateru, a legal officer with Justice Centre Uganda, said the information and educational materials to be used should be translated into local languages for easy understanding among the beneficiaries.
Drateru said many of the local leaders do not read or speak English to clearly interpret the materials to the beneficiaries.