SUPPORT FOR SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN UGANDA

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Domestic and Sexual Violence on Women and girls has been increasingly recognized as a

serious Human Rights Abuse, Public Health and a Development Concern. Various

Studies carried out in Uganda and Globally, confirms that Sexual Gender Based

Violence has various negative consequences especially for the Women and

Children. Where they face death, Physical, Sexual and Mental health problems as

well as implications for the Economic and Social well-being of Families in the

communities in Uganda.

CHALLENGE:

Domestic Violence against Women and Children has increased overtime as regularly

reported in the media in the post COVID19 Pandemic in Uganda. According to the

Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development and Annual Crime Police

Reports of 2022, hence the need for urgent support. 

The Gender Violence cases increased in the post COVID19 Pandemic due to negative

changes in social and economic conditions in the communities. Therefore, Women

and Girls still face serious barriers that hamper realization of their Rights,

Safety and Freedoms including lack of access to Justice. 

This is due to limited enforcement of existent Laws and Policies, Economic, Religious

and Social-Cultural Barriers, Limited Resources by Enforcement Agencies and

Partners to Support the GBV Victims and Survivors. Our rapid response program

for the FGM Victims, began in 2015 and we have supported over 12,500

FGM/Survivors to date, with almost half of those cases being reported to us in

2020 during the covid19 pandemic lock down. 

In 2018, UNICEF found that in Uganda, one in four girls aged 12-17 years reported Gender

Based Violence. The post COVID-19 pandemic has created a shadow pandemic

of increased cases of FGM/Gender Based Violence in the Communities.

SOLUTION:

We are working to change attitudes of perpetrators, support Survivors and Victims and

bring their perpetrators to justice. We work in the communities with GBV

shelters and healing centers. 

We prevent and train community members to recognize the cases, signs, report FGM,

support survivors and prevent GBV.

We have trained different professionals and stake holders to act as FGM/GBV case

managers for the victims and survivors in the communities, schools, health

centers and other institutions to fight FGM/violence against women and girls.

We provide psycho-social support, medical care, safety, counseling and Rapid Legal Aid

Response Services to the FGM/GBV Survivors.

We also conduct advocacy and sensitization to prevent FGM/ Domestic and Sexual Violence

on women and children in collaboration with the Media.

LONG-TERM IMPACT:

The long-term effect will be a decrease in the number of defilement and rape cases

with the ultimate goal being to eradicate sexual and domestic violence as a whole.

Beneficiaries will be given tools that will transform their lives from victims to victors. AFCOD'S GBV program serves Regions of over 40,000 people, and hope to setup

FGM/GBVshelters and healing centers throughout Uganda.

We want all the women and children to live in a safe environment free from sexual and

gender based violence.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES:

i) To Provide Rapid Legal Aid Services to the FGM/GBV Survivors to access Justice.

ii) Give Counseling, Psycho-Social Support for the Victims.

iii)Training Workshops and Community Awareness in the media.

iv) Setup 24/hr. Emergency phone Line for the FGM Survivors.

v)Setting up the GVB Shelters and Healing Crisis Centers.

vi)Relocation and livelihood for Safety of the victims.

vii)Provide Medical treatment to the GBV survivors