WHY?, Only 10,280 cases of GBV have been reported, and many go unreported

There is urgent   need   to  address  the  escalating  cases  of  GBV  especially during the COVID  19 lockdown  period.

Today, Uganda has joined the rest of the world to launch the sixteen   ( 16)   Days of  Activism Campaign   Against   Gender-Based   Violence   (GBV)   2020 through the Ministry of Gender.     The Campaign on the  International Day for Elimination of Violence against  Women will end on  10 December, the International Human  Rights Day.

The  2020 Global theme for the  Campaign is   “Orange the  World: Fund,  Respond,  prevent, collect”. The campaign is intended to raise awareness about gender-based violence and provide a   forum for dialogue and strategy sharing on good practices for preventing and responding to GBV.

Gender-Based   Violence impacts negatively on economic, social and public health issues in the country but the Minister says the series of events will be a platform for voices of survivors and activists to be heard.

According to the Uganda Police Forces, Criminal Investigations Directorate, a total of 10,280 cases of GBV have been reported from January-April 2020.  Of these 46.8% were cases of domestic violence, 43.2% were  for defilement and  5.6% were  for  rape.  Uganda  has  registered  161  cases  of  murders resulting  from  domestic  violence.  

Minister Mutuuzo says that many  cases  of GBV and  Violence  Against  Children  (VAC) go un reported through  any of the recognized  channels.

It  has  also  been   observed  especially  during  the  COVID  19 lockdown, that Uganda experienced high levels of teenage pregnancy and  child  marriage, she added.

According to the  Police  report, 4442 cases of defilement were  reported between January and April 2020.  The  SAUTI  (116)  toll  free  line  reported 800 cases  of sexual   abuse   between   January  and   May,   2020  including increased cases of teenage pregnancy.

Ugandans have been encouraged to use all channels available to report GBV cases for example the Sauti VAC/GBV   toll   free   reporting   line   for  violence   against children  and women so that the National   Gender  based   violence   Data   Base   (NGBVD)  a system that is used for collecting  data captures all the information for action by the relevant stakeholders.

“We believe  that  the  launch of the sixteen days against gender based  violence  as well  as  the other events,  that  are to be held in  different  parts  of  the  country   will  provide   opportunities  to different people to reflect and  dialogue about these important issues.”

However Minister Mutuuzo also acknowledges that Gender Based Violence doesn’t only affect women, and girls, but also men and boys in the society.

Budaka District Local Governement, will take lead in the campaign with support from Obwa lkumbania Bwa Bugwere and other organizations.