Efforts To Reduce Gender Based Violence, Sexaul Exploitation And Abuse And Violence Against Children Prevalence.
Gender based violence entails exploitation of both men and women but predominantly women. According to the Uganda demographic health survey, (2011), Uganda has a high rate of reported Gender based violence. The survey indicated that the overall prevalence rate of physical violence was at 56%, 27.7% sexual violence and 42.9% for spouse emotional violence.GBV and VAC became more prevalent during the covid-19 lockdown because children and partners were locked up in homes together with their tormentors.
GBV and VAC can result into life threatening outcomes such as maternal mortality, disability, injury, drug abuse, pregnancy complications, drug abuse and depression.
It is against this background, that Joy for Children –Uganda implemented a project on reducing GBV,VAC, and SEA prevalence around the hydro electricity power station Achwa 3 in Gulu and Pader districts in northern Uganda.
For the first year of project implementation we have achieved tremendous progress through;
- Gaining total support from the districts `leaders who have not only committed to offer support in execution of project activities but also in identifying project beneficiaries. Project officers have also trained community based organizations in reporting cases of GBV, VAC and SEA to the district police commander.
- Hosted and chaired a high level meeting with the ministry of Energy and works, World Bank officials, civil society organizations among others who affirmed their commitment to identify policy gaps in social protection in localities with infrastructural development.
- The management of the dam agreed to expand the residential area for the workers to provide accommodation for the non-resident construction workers; this was agreed as a result of the engagement meetings with Joy for children Uganda in order to reduce incidences of GBV, VAC and SEA.
- Cross-training amongst the consortium members on reporting and case management. This has strengthened the joint efforts to prevent VAC and GBV in the two districts.
- JFCU organized a sharing meeting with World Bank officials where the world bank officials the new standard procurement documents to enhance contractual requirements for prevention of sexual exploitation and Abuse.
Despite, the above accomplishments, there have been challenges implementing some of the above activities including the in ability to access the construction sites by JFCU and other implementing partners. However, through our engagements with the ministry of energy the construction company agreed to set visiting dates for local leaders. Wide spread poverty in the community which intensifies the need for parents to marry off their children to casual laborers at the construction site.
The immense challenge was the emergence of the covid-19 pandemic in the country. The country went under a partial lockdown in March that led to the closure of schools and restriction on both private and public transport. The confinement of children at home especially girls made it possible for older to men to defile girls and violate their health. More there were limitations on public gatherings for insistence in the schools.
