The State Minister of Gender and Culture Ms Peace Mutuzo has said that women are still the leading victims of gender based violence in the country.
Ms Mutuzo said that women account to 40,714 of the total 46,486 survivors of GBV who have sought help in the 23 GBV shelters so far.
Men account to 5,766 while 443 are the persons living with disabilities.
She made these remarks while unveiling the official program launch of this year’s 16 Days of Activism Campaign commences on November 25, which is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and concludes on December 16, the World Human Rights Day.
“The 2022 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey further revealed that up to 16% of women aged 15 to 49 in the country had experienced some form of sexual violence. The report also revealed that 24% of women aged 15 to 19 are mothers or pregnant with their first child,” she said.
According to the UDHS, Acholi sub region top with the cases of GBV at 78℅ and sexual violence at 36℅.
“The life time prevalence of physical or sexual violence or both by intimate partner is 56%. In Uganda about half of the women face economic violence 47% two in every 10 women 23% are forced to give their earnings to their partners,” she said.
Official launch of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence to take place on November 24, in Kiryandongo District.
“To coincide with the launch, Uganda is also joining an Africa wide campaign named Africa Educates Her Campaign aimed at ensuring that every girl has access to quality education from early childhood through secondary and higher education,” she said
Utility
The 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) Campaign was inaugurated in 1991 and has since grown globally and is marked with a wide range of activities organized by various stakeholders. This year 2023, marks the 32nd Anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign.
In 2008, the UN Secretary General launched another initiative “UNiTE! End Violence against Women by 2030” that reinforces the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. The UNiTE Campaign calls for global actions to increase awareness, galvanize advocacy efforts, and share knowledge and innovative measures to address GBV
