The advocacy program has multiple purposes including raising visibility of the violence and risks WHRDs face, mobilizing solidarity to increase protection for WHRDs at risk, valuing WHRDs work and activism. Our advocacy actions at national, regional and international levels, will make the voices of WHRDs heard at all levels. This will in turn ensure that human rights protection mechanisms and initiatives address WHRDs’ situations and promote their integrated protection.
The program interventions include;
- Research and documentation; We document cases and gather information in order to generate gender focused information and analysis against women defenders.
- Building and Strengthening regional protective networks for WHRDs; Given the context of exclusion, discrimination & gender inequality experienced by WHRDs that many WHRDs do not have strong safety networks to rely on in the face of these risks. The Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) focuses its work on building and promoting safety networks for WHRDs operating in different regional (rural grass root communities) in Uganda. The regional protective WHRD networks have been created in Northern, Western, Eastern and Southern regions of Uganda.
- We engage in communication to support advocacy, dialogue, rapid response and encourage solidarity when in the face of attacks against WHRDs in Uganda, thereby contributing to their protection.
- Publish statements related to protection of WHRDs aimed at national, regional and international authorities
- Advocacy on policy by engaging with lawmakers and policy makers to gain support for conducive gender responsive policies to the protection of WHRDs in Uganda.
- Networking and Partnerships is a key aspect of Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda’s advocacy is creation of networks and linkages with stakeholders and other actors.
- Media and communications, through engagement with media personnel, electronic media, our website and social media platforms. These are important tools to reach and sensitize the public.
Brenda Kugonza, our Executive Director gives highlights of the situation of Women Human Rights Defenders in Uganda at the Human Rights Defenders Annual Forum.
Mr. Sanjuan Javier, of The Office of the United National High
Commissioner for Human Rights gives remarks on collaborating with WHRDNU.
Brenda Kugonza, the E.D WHRDNU joined Urgent Action Fund for the
launch of the African-Feminist Republik platform
for the Women Human Rights Defenders in
Naivasha-Kenya.
Damalie Mukhaye a female journalist narrates the threats and violence she experienced while in the field.
Amina, a woman defender, gives testimony of threats she
experienced in her work of defending land rights.
Jenepher, a woman defender, gives testimony of threats
she experienced in her work of denouncing human rights
violation actions of oil extraction projects.
Miriam Mwiza, a woman human rights defender sharing the threats she has faced defending human rights of trafficked girls and women.
Brenda Kugonza, Executive director WHRDN-U hosted on channel 44 to discuss the environment women human rights defenders operate in.
Brenda Kugonza E.D WHRNU interacting with international delegates
Rt Hon Rebecca Kadaga speaking during a meeting with WHRDNU Secretariat.
Hon. Komakech Lyandro signs the position paper from the WHRDNU.
Christine Achom, a Woman Defender from Tororo district gives her views on the Human Rights Protection Bill.
Brenda Kugonza, E.D WHRDNU, delivers a position paper advocating for a gender based Human Rights Protection Bill.
