Women activists decry rising violence
Nov 25, 2009
WOMEN activists have expressed worry over the delay by the Police and courts to dispose of gender-related violence cases.
By Mary Karugaba and Jude Kafuuma
WOMEN activists have expressed worry over the delay by the Police and courts to dispose of gender-related violence cases.
On March 5, the women presented a petition to Parliament against violation of their rights and in support of the Domestic Violence Bill.
The women, while launching 16 days of activism against gender-based violence at the Parliament yesterday, observed that in 2007, a total of 12,829 sexuallly-related violence cases were reported to the Police but only 28 suspects were convicted.
According to Jane Alisemera, the chairperson of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, 8,512 cases are still pending inquiry.
She, however, expressed optimism that with the passing of the Domestic Violence Bill, most of the gender-related cases would be addressed.
“We did not have sufficient legislation under which the Police could prosecute these cases,†Alisemera said.
The absence of laws, she said, supplemented by limited awareness by the Police, Judiciary and the public had limited proper response to the problem.
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, described gender-based violence as a universal vice that affects all countries.
He said it was the concern of the international community and women activists to fight it.
“Women are six to eight times likely to suffer violence than their male counterparts. It is everyone’s duty to ensure that we play our roles to end the vice,†Ssekandi said.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said the Government should establish specialised agencies to handle domestic violence.
Mondo Kyateka, a commissioner in the gender ministry, told the activists that eastern Uganda ranks first in cases of sexual violence.
WOMEN activists have expressed worry over the delay by the Police and courts to dispose of gender-related violence cases.
On March 5, the women presented a petition to Parliament against violation of their rights and in support of the Domestic Violence Bill.
The women, while launching 16 days of activism against gender-based violence at the Parliament yesterday, observed that in 2007, a total of 12,829 sexuallly-related violence cases were reported to the Police but only 28 suspects were convicted.
According to Jane Alisemera, the chairperson of Uganda Women Parliamentary Association, 8,512 cases are still pending inquiry.
She, however, expressed optimism that with the passing of the Domestic Violence Bill, most of the gender-related cases would be addressed.
“We did not have sufficient legislation under which the Police could prosecute these cases,†Alisemera said.
The absence of laws, she said, supplemented by limited awareness by the Police, Judiciary and the public had limited proper response to the problem.
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Ssekandi, described gender-based violence as a universal vice that affects all countries.
He said it was the concern of the international community and women activists to fight it.
“Women are six to eight times likely to suffer violence than their male counterparts. It is everyone’s duty to ensure that we play our roles to end the vice,†Ssekandi said.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga, said the Government should establish specialised agencies to handle domestic violence.
Mondo Kyateka, a commissioner in the gender ministry, told the activists that eastern Uganda ranks first in cases of sexual violence.