Edwig Kyomukama – Page 2 – Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda

DISTRICT FOCAL PERSONS WHRDS TRAINED IN ONLINE GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND DIGITAL SECURITY MANAGEMENT.

Posted on December 9, 2021 | by Edwig Kyomukama

20 district focal persons from Karamoja, Albertine, Rwenzori, West Nile, and Acholi regions of Uganda acquired skills on online gender-based violence and digital security management as a mean to protect themselves against online gender threats in their work. This was during a two-day training, organized by Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) at Eureka hotel in Ntinda, on 28^th to 29^th October 2021.

While leading a session on digital security management, Ms. Kwikiriza Sandra, encouraged participants to prioritize their safety through using practical tips such as;

Installing virtual private networks
Setting strong passwords
Activating two-factor authentication
Backing up data
Identifying the abusers
Reporting cases of violence to authorities.

Ms Kwikiriza demonstrated how the internet operates. “When one sends a message to another person through a device, it passes through internet service provider 1(ISP1) like Airtel or MTN who then connects to the WhatsApp or website then back to Internet Service Provider 2(ISP 2) where the message is being sent.’’

Ms. Kwikiriza Sandra facilitating on digital security management during the district focal persons WHRDS training.

Ms. Amuge Peace, while facilitating on online gender-based violence advised participants to be aware of digital hackers and stay vigilant when using internet. She explained that the misuse of digital tools has opened doors to new forms of abuse such as cyber bullying, defamation, doxing and sexual harassment. This has caused distress, trauma, and depression to victims including WHRDS.

Ms. Asubazuyo Gertrude, a WHRD from Albertine region shared that, “News came from one of my WhatsApp groups of a man who was found beating his wife in the market accusing her of not staying home to cook. When I condemned this act, people abused me in comments saying that this matter does not concern me. Another person commented, ‘no wonder you are not married’’.

Ms. Lopuka Mary, a WHRD from Karamoja region revealed that, she got shocked when together with her colleagues reached at work in the morning and opened their computers only to find a pornography movie.

*Gertrude Asubaziyo (third from left), a WHRD from Masindi district in Albertine region sharing her experience on online gender-based violence.*

Mary Lopuka, a WHRD from Nakapirit district in Karamoja region explaining her experience on online gender-based during the training.

Participants were encouraged to transfer knowledge on online gender-based violence and digital security skills to colleagues in their respective organizations. In our tweet here, Ms. Sange Jackeline, a WHRD from Kween district, Eastern region trained two of her colleagues in the Benet Community.

WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS NETWORK UGANDA APPRECIATES MEDIA’S SUPPORT IN THEIR WORK.

Posted on December 6, 2021 | by Edwig Kyomukama

Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) is deeply indebted to the media for the great work of setting the agenda to support the work of women human rights defenders in ending violence against women and girls.

On 24/11/2021, our Executive Director Ms. Kugonza Brenda addressed journalists on the situation of women human rights defenders at Piato Restaurant, Kampala. On 30/11/2021, her message was published in the New Vision, and featured in one o’clock news bulletin, at 107.8, Aulogo FM, in Adjuman District.

Click here to read more about Ms. Brenda’s story in the New Vision.

The news bite that was aired on 107.8, Aulogo FM.

As our mandate to ensure a free and safe work environment for women human rights defenders, we continue to condemn all forms of violence against women and girls. We also seek government protection for all women human rights defenders in Uganda.

Women human rights defender having a fun time during the launch.

COMMEMORATION OF 29TH NOVEMBER 2021 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS DAY

Posted on December 2, 2021 | by Edwig Kyomukama

As the world commemorated the International day for women human rights defenders on 29^th November 2021, Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) jointly with UN Women, oriented this year’s campaign and launched the safety guidelines as move to strengthen the protection women human rights defenders against violence.

Speaking at the launch at Protea Hotel, Ms. Anna Marrifield, the Deputy Ambassador European Union Delegation to Uganda and the chief guest, appreciated all women human rights defenders for not giving up amidst the challenges they face while executing their work. She urged women human rights defenders to take note of these guidelines and use them for self-protection against violence. She appealed to the policymakers of Uganda to consider these guidelines in the 11^th Parliament

Ms. Anna Marrifield, the Deputy Ambassador EU Delegation to Uganda (on the right) and Ms. Kemi, UN Women representative (on the left) during the launch

While presenting the safety guidelines, Ms. Nakaweesi Solome, a Pan-African feminist, who took a lead role in developing these safety guidelines, thanked WHRDN-U, UN Women, and other partners for the great work in the protection of women human rights defender. “We took time to consult women human rights defenders from four regions of Uganda, that is North, South, East and West. Some of these women are here with us, thank you for providing us with the information which led to the compilation of these safety guidelines”. Ms. Nakaweesi revealed.

Ms. Nakaweesi Solome, an international consultant and a human rights advocate presenting the safety guidelines during the launch.

The Executive Director of WHRDN-U, Ms. Kugonza Brenda, in her remarks, called for an urgent need to end gender-based violence among women human rights defenders, revealing that most of them have been arrested, beaten, discriminated, sexually assaulted, and cyber harassed, which has made their work difficult. She called upon women human rights defenders to pay attention to self-protection and committed herself to leading the network in the implementation the safety guidelines.

During the inspirational experience session, Ms. Edreda Dingolo, a defender for the Batwa tribe in Bundibudyo district, called for the protection of ancestral land and unique violence against Batwa women and girls. “There is a stereotype in our community that you can cure yourself of HIV by sleeping with a woman from Batwa, so we are often raped. She added. Ms. Halima Nalongo a defender for land, environmental, oil and extractives, also expressed her concerns on the rising threats and arrests among women working in salt industry related to land grabbing and access to justice in her region.

Ms. Edreda Dingolo (on the right), a defender for Batwa tribe in Bundibudyo distrct, Ms. Halima Nalongo (in the middle) a defender for land, environmental, oil and extractives, and Ms. Chelian Dorcus (on the left), a defender fighting FGM and early marriages in Amudat district express themselves during the launch.

Mr. Thomas, a representative from EU Delegation to Uganda, who officially launched the safety guidelines, in his remarks, thanked WHRDN-U, UN Women, and other partners for initiating these guidelines and encouraged women human rights defenders to use of them.

Mr. Thomas (on the right), a representative from EU Delegation to Uganda speaking to women human rights defenders during the launch. On the right, WHRDN-U board chairperson Ms. Margaret Kyemba signing on the launch paper.

ABOUT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES FOR WOMEN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS

The guidelines offer practical tips for online and offline safety measures that will enable women human rights defenders at different levels to mitigate risks and attacks of violence in their work. These include; creating support spaces at district and regional levels, alliance building with like-minded actors, reporting and exposing perpetrators, creating legal frameworks, group movements, self-care and wellness, confidentiality and responsible use of internet among others. Key implementers of these guidelines including UN Women, WHRDN-U, and OHCHR will make them accessible on their websites, workshops, briefings and webinar to support the effective utilisation of these guidelines.