Gender Based Violence (GBV) is widespread in Uganda and is mainly committed against women and girls. The problem is particularly serious in Eastern Uganda and Karamoja. Community tolerance of gender based violence is a contributory factor with an estimated 70% of men and 90% of women believing that beating is justifiable. Very few women or men who have experienced physical or sexual violence have sought help from the police. A major challenge to addressing gender based violence is the absence of a proper national strategy and a coordinated approach by the Government. Legal, medical and social services are also inadequate to deal with the scale of the problem.
Irish Aid is strengthening its approach to prevention and response programmes in Gender Based Violence, working through local government and civil society organisations in areas which have the highest prevalence in the country. Irish Aid is also advocating for the development and implementation of a national strategy to address the problem. Changing attitudes to gender based violence requires continuous community mobilisation to promote individual behaviour change.
To reduce the incidence of Gender Based Violence (GBV) particularly amongst the poor and vulnerable, Irish Aid will strengthen its approach to prevention and response programmes, working through local government and civil society organisations, focusing on regions such as Busoga, Teso and Karamoja which have the highest prevalence in the country. Women will also be encouraged to report and seek assistance in cases of gender based violence.
Mainstreaming opportunities will be identified across the programme especially through the Quality Education Initiative, the Justice Law and Order Sector and the HIV/AIDS Programme.
Irish Aid will help to strengthen coordination mechanisms for the Government response to gender based violence through its engagement with the multi-sectoral reference group for GBV. It will also work to improve donor coordination and eliminate duplication in funding of programmes. Irish Aid will ensure that the problem of gender based violence is adequately addressed in the Social Development Sector Review.
Irish Aid will also continue to advocate for the development and implementation of a national GBV strategy. This will be done in collaboration with other development partners such as Norway, the United Nations Fund for Population Activities, as well as civil society organisations.
An advocacy programme on domestic violence launched by the Catholic Bishop’s Conference, Irish Aid and Trocaire in 2009 will continue during the course of this CSP.
