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The Speaker Rt.Hon Anita Among (L), presiding over the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Parliament Photo.
The Speaker Of the Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among (middle) in a group Photo with Colleagues, Ambassadors and representatives of the UN family shortly before the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Rt.Hon Anita Among is all smiles after receiving overwhelming birthday messages shortly before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Rt.Hon Anita Among is all smiles after receiving overwhelming birthday messages shortly before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Rt.Hon Anita Among is all smiles after receiving overwhelming birthday messages shortly before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Of Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among is all smiles after receiving overwhelming birthday messages shortly before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Of the Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among delivering her remarks before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates. 
The Speaker Of the Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among is all smiles after receiving overwhelming birthday messages shortly before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Right is Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Chairperson Hon.Sarah Opendi. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Members of the Ugandan Parliament joined by other women activists during the launch.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Of the Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among looks on on the right as Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Chairperson Hon.Sarah Opendi makes her remarks before the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Chairperson Hon.Sarah Opendi makes her remarks before the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Chairperson Hon.Sarah Opendi makes her remarks before the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Members of Parliament including some men witnessed the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Members of Parliament witnessed the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Members of Parliament witnessed the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Chairperson Hon.Sarah Opendi (Right) with Hon. Shartis Kutesa after the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Mr.Peter odeke from CPA moderated the function.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Ambassador Of Netherlands in UgandaDr.Karin Boven delivering her remarks.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates. 
A guest is seen Ambassador Of Sweden in UgandaH.E Maria Hakansson delivering her remarks.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Hon.Susan Mugabi attended with his son the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Of the Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among delivering her remarks before launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The Speaker Of the Ugandan Parliament Rt.Hon Anita Among shortly after launching of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates. 
Uganda Women Parliamentary Association (UWOPA) Chairperson Hon.Sarah Opendi is seen after the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates. 
Guests attending the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Hon.Susan Mugabi attended with his son the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022.Left is the Ambassador of Sweden in Uganda H.E maria Hakansson.Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
Journalists also witnessed the launch of the GBV campaign in the Members’ Lounge at Parliament 23rd Nov,2022. Photo by Ronald Kabuubi/KMA Updates.
The annual international campaign dubbed, ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV)’, has been launched at Parliament with an appeal to involve men in programmes aimed at eliminating GBV.
Presiding at the launch on Wednesday, 23 November 2022, Speaker Anita Among said that GBV had become ‘a persistent virus’ that calls for an amalgamated effort to defeat it.
She, however, noted that although Parliament has passed legislations aimed at eliminating ‘the virus’, implementation has remained poor due to budgetary constraints.
“As Parliament, we need to ensure that the laws on GBV elimination must be budgeted for, it is one thing to pass a law and another to have it implemented,” said Speaker Among.
The laws include, the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act, 2010, the Domestic Violence Act, 2010 and Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2009.
The Speaker was concerned that the population is unware about the laws addressing GBV and charged the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to popularise the existing laws during the campaign.
The campaign is supported by the Uganda Women Parliamentarians Association (UWOPA), UN Women, United Nations Population Fund and the embassies of Netherlands and Sweden.
The Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Betty Amongi, said the campaign which commences on 25 December 2022, will focus on tackling GBV at household level cognisant that many cases happen in homes.
“We know fathers, brothers and other relatives who have defiled their daughters and sisters. We are seeing many in the media. We therefore want to start with homes,” said the minister.
She added: “Violent homes can easily affect girls from pursuing education – a girl will be forced to run away from her violent home into early marriage.”
Hon. Atkins Katusabe (Bukonjo County West, Kasese District) was passionate about the campaign.Parliament Photo.
Minister Amongi said there was a growing trend of violence among couples which the campaign hopes to address. She cited the 2021 Uganda Bureau of Statistics report which puts intimate partner sexual violence prevalence at 36 per cent and physical violence among women at 47 per cent.
Legislators during the plenary sitting after the launch, tasked the minister to conduct the campaign activities in rural areas as opposed to the cities, saying GBV cases are more prevalent in rural areas.
“Sensitisation activities seem to be at the upper strata of our society yet GBV is mostly in the rural area, can I be told what activity is there in Dokolo so that I can be part of that rural woman who is being abused, who does not know the legal framework to defend her?” asked Hon. Cecilia Ogwal (FDC, Woman Rep., Dokolo District).
MPs re-emphasised the Speaker’s plea to empower boy children, who they said, have been neglected.
“We are putting much emphasis on girl children and our boys are going astray. If you go to the villages, the roles that men used to play have been relegated to women; its women who pay school fees and take care of homes,” said Hon. Peter Ocen (Ind., Kole South County).
Hon. Godfrey Kayemba (NUP, Bukomansimbi) said: “Boys grow up but they are not empowered and that is why boys have complicated hearts and acts. I have a friend in my constituency who was beaten by his woman and when he went to the Police, they just laughed at him”.
Legislators also want the Judiciary to expeditiously settle GBV cases saying the 2021 Police report indicates a poor conviction rate.
“The action report from the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs shows the conviction rate of rape perpetrators in the last one year at five per cent, that means it could take almost 20 years to convict a rape perpetrator,” said Hon. Samuel Opio (Ind., Kole North County).
He added: “Many of these cases ‘die’ at the Police station and fail to proceed through the justice system to the prosecution.”
Minister Betty Amongi informed MPs that the campaign will focus on tackling GBV at household level.Parliament Photo.
Story by Parliament Of Uganda