Uganda: Women Activists Hold Demo

June 10, 2008 – (New Vision) Women activists have petitioned Parliament demanding that the Government passes all pending Bills that address violence against women and girls.

The women, who marched yesterday from Kololo Airstrip to Parliament, presented the petition to the Deputy Speaker, Rebecca Kadaga.

"We understand the problems women and children are facing," Kadaga said.

"I am entrusting this petition to the Women Parliamentary Association to ensure that we lobby our male counterparts to support Bills that concern women so that they are passed as soon as possible."

Margaret Mungherera, a medical consultant, said the Domestic Violence, Sexual Offences, Domestic Relations and Women Trafficking Bills would help curb the increasing cases of rape and defilement.

Mungherera said violence against women and girls should be addressed as a community issue, warning that if left unattended, it would create a public health and human rights crisis.

"The women's movement has been fighting against sexual, physical and emotional violence, but recent media reports indicate that violence against women is on the rise. This is because most of the crimes go unpunished due to weak laws."

Tina Musiya of the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention, said: "The rate of violence against women is alarming. The stories of abuse are harrowingly similar; the patterns are clear and consistent. Thousands of women who have survived violence have come out to say, "Enough is enough!"

The activists demanded that the Government and the Police do more to protect women and girls from cruel and degrading treatment.

Allen Asiimwe, a lawyer, requested the Government to fund programmes that prevent violence and help victims recover their dignity and health.

The Police crime report released in March this year indicated a decline in the number of reported rape cases from 750 in 2006 to 599 in 2007.

The report said 453 of the cases occurred in rural areas, while 146 were in urban areas.

From:http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/13/632804