On March 8th 2022, 29 Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDS) converged at Arch Apartment Hotel Ntinda for a breakfast meeting to commemorate International Women’s Day with the special launch of the Online Gender Based Violence handbook for WHRDS.
The emerging trends of online violence against WHRDS prompted Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda (WHRDN-U) to develop a handbook that will be a guide for organizations and individual WHRDS to prevent and respond to online Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Objective of the meeting.
- Raise awareness on online GBV concerns for WHRDS
- Validate and launch a hand book for WHRDS on ICT GBV as a guide to strengthen awareness, provide tips on how to identify, document and report online violence
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- WHRDS introduce themselves during the meeting
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- WHRDS introduce themselves during the meeting
Ms. Janat Namuli the Rapid Response Protection Officer of WHRDN-U welcomed the Women Human Rights Defenders who came from Acholi, Karamoja, WestNile, Rwenzori and Westnile regions and wished them a Happy Women’s Day. She reminded them of the promise WHRDN-U made during online GBV and digital security management trainings held in 2021 to invite them to the validation and the launch and the day had finally arrived.
Ms Peace Olivia Amuge the Executive Director of Women Of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) mentioned that the handbook was compiled after the online trainings with the WHRDS in 2021. She further mentioned what consists of the handbook
- The different forms of Online GBV
- Types of Online GBV
- Root causes of Online GBV
- Impact of Online GBV to the WHRDS
- Digital Security Management
- Existing laws and legal frameworks.
Validation from WHRDS
Ms Bonita Asingwirwe from WHRDN-U led a validation session with the WHRDS where she asked for comments in regards to the Online GBV handbook. Below are some of the comments.
Rosemary Kyemba- The launch of the handbook is timely for us as Women Human Rights Defenders because it is now a tool for guidance on how we can deal with online violence. pic.twitter.com/6IDne7Gd0X
— Women Human Rights Defenders Network- Uganda (@WHRDNU) March 11, 2022
Mercy Okori a WHRD from Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) shares her recommendations about the handbook.
Message from Brenda Kugonza, the Executive Director of WHRDN-U after the launch of the online GBV handbook for Women Human Rights Defenders on Women’s day 2022
Women Human Rights Defenders speak after the successful launch of the online Gender Based Violence handbook for Women Human Rights Defenders.
Women Human Rights Defenders celebrate and dance after launching the handbook.