KAMPALA– While evaluating Uganda’s progress in the protection and promotion of human rights at the 75th year commemoration of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights , government has been tasked to focus more on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.
The Uganda Human Rights Commission(UHRC) together with ASF, GIZ Uganda and the African Center for Torture Victims (ACTV) held a public High-level dialogue for joint commemoration of international human rights day and access to Justice for women. The main focus being on rights of women as well as outcry from human rights activists to government on issues to do with gender equality and equity aswell as gender based violence(GBV).
Laura Criada, the programs coordinator at United Nations Fund For Population Activities (UNFPA) expressed the need by government to take deliberate measures towards addressing existing gender inequalities, equalise opportunities, and empower women to realise their rights and full potential.
She also urged cultural, religious leaders and parliamentarians to take bold action against negative social and cultural norms such as child marriage and child motherhood which have dire consequences to realise their full potential.
“They should have information and be empowered to make their own choices. When it comprehensive reproductive health care is affordable, geographically accessible and administer without discrimination or stigma or maltreatment warranting adolescence the right to full an accurate information on sex and reproductive health, including sexuality education, monitoring and regulating conscience, consent to use objection to ensure its invocation doesn’t prevent women from accessing comprehensive reproductive health care.” She said
Laura further implored Government to ensure that sexual and reproductive health information and services are available, accessible and acceptable and good quality by especially for adolescent girls.
“Rollout the male engagement strategy and this can expand male action groups to promote gender equality of up to globally lead to maternal and newborn health.” Laura added
In his keynote address, Hon. Justice Richard Buteera, the deputy chief Justice said the commemoration calls us to examine what has been achieved since the declaration and reflect on what needs to be accomplished in the future.
“The commemoration compels us to reflect on the continuing relevance of the universal declaration to the political, social, economic and cultural environment. We live in, and how we can transform its promise into a living reality for all the people in the world in which we live.” He said
Buteera added that the commemoration reminds us of the tenets of the Universal Declaration in sought to reaffirm and renew our attachment to these fundamental principles and this vision.
“When we observe the society we live in, it’s clear that a lot remains to be done in the field of human rights protection and promotion. It is not time yet for us to relax.” Hon Justice Richard Buteera added.
The judge also gave a brief history about the Universal declaration of Human rights (UDHR) and how its formulation impacted Uganda and women rights.
Justice also pointed out that since it’s birth on 10th December 1948, a lot has changed in regards to women rights in Uganda. He adds that Women back in the days, were not involved in anything to do with leadership and decision making.
“When the British came to Uganda, they found the indigenous people had their own concepts of human rights, which served their own society. Culture of the abundant population was collectivist, the clans and tribes moved their clan and tribal leaders as protectors of their human rights rather than the individual rights of their members. Tribal and clan leaders were respected and were given special status, age and gender for social issues.”
Commissioner Omala, Who represented the chairperson of Uganda Human Rights Commission , in his his opening remarks noted that tbe commemoration cannot be overstated as it’s one of the various mechanisms through which the commission fulfills part of its mandate under Article 52, 1H of the Constitution which provides for monitoring government’s compliance with international treaty conventions obligation on human rights.
He added that this commemoration activity is also used by the Uganda Human Rights Commission(UHRC) as a self reflection mechanism to annually self evaluate themselves to identify the gains and challenges in the commemorate strategies for better human rights redress mechanisms in the following year.
“As we mark this 75years, we deem it fit to have a forum like this one where different stakeholders can paint for us a picture of Uganda’s UDHR and Human Rights journey thus far. With the highlight on access to justice for women, both the international theme dignity freedom and justice for all and our local national theme, UDHR at 75 evaluating Uganda’s progress in the protection and promotion of human rights I instructive on the progressiveness of the journey towards attaining a human rights violation free society.” He said.
Omala also called upon all other arms of government, the Executive and Parliament in particular to continue supporting the Uganda Human Rights Commission in its work.
