MPs want specialized courts for gender based violence cases

A group of Female MPs under their umbrella body, Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) have mooted a proposal requesting government to set up specialized courts on gender based violence issues.

UWOPA chairperson, Monicah Amoding (Kumi), said that specialized courts will weed out the piling backlog of cases related to gender violence.

"The rampant occurrence of sexual and gender-based violence is a result of lack of specialized courts and trained staff to handle GBV, which delays to deliver timely justice to all,"Amoding said.

She was addressing a press conference at Parliament.

The UWOPA coordinator, Betty Imyamuramye, said the 2011 Uganda Demography survey showed that 59.6% of women from the age of 15 have experienced physical violence, while 39% women in Uganda have been sexually harassed.

The proposal to set up specialised courts on gender based violence has also been supported by Center for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIC), an NGO fighting for women and children rights.

The call is made in commemoration of the16 days of activism campaign on violence against women and children under the theme: "Break the silence, breaking barriers, how will you make education safe for girls?"

CEDOVIC executive director, Tina Musuya, said on average rape cases last for over 10 years, a trend that leaves victims scampering for justice.

"Some married women who have children   may feel very shameful to testify before courts of law, a rape case which happened some time due to the delay," she said.

"These huddles affect justice to the women and girls if the perpetuators are not handled in time they continue to misbehave," said Musuya.