AFRO-NETS> 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence

[Juliet Were <isis@starcom.co.ug>]

16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence
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Dear Friends,

Greetings from Isis-WICCE!

We are glad to share with you our activities for the 16 days of Ac-
tivism against Gender Violence as below.

Launch of a video documentary entitled "A Lingering Pain: Women and 
War in Uganda". 
Produced by Isis-WICCE, 2002; 40 minutes.

When: 25th November 2002, Kampala, Uganda

For more than 25 years, Uganda has suffered cyclic political upheav-
als, which have resulted in armed conflicts. As in all wars and armed 
conflict situations, women and children have been targeted and have 
experienced various forms of gender based violence. The documentary 
highlights a grippingly sad account of Uganda women war survivors 
who, despite the abductions, rapes and torture at the hands of war-
ring parties, unite against the evils that degrade their humanity. 
The story of horror unfolds through bizarre experiences, from a young 
girl abducted and forced to kill, to Christine, who was set ablaze 
but miraculously survived, as armed aggression rips Uganda societies 
apart.

A lingering pain is a struggle of the female voice, which amidst the 
chaos and waste created by war, re-emerges with amazing resilience to 
challenge the greed, subordination, and humiliation characterizing 
many armed conflict situations on the African continent.

The documentary is aimed at raising awareness in Uganda and the Great 
Lakes region on the need to resolve conflicts amicably and to uphold 
the respect of women's human rights. The analysis provided by differ-
ent experts is yet a strategy to influence policy makers to design 
appropriate mechanisms for redress.

The launch of the documentary was Isis-WICCE's opening activity dur-
ing the 16 days of Activism as a campaign tool against all forms of 
violence against women. The launch was preceded with talk shows on 
radio and television broadcasting.

Radio Drama Skits

Radio drama skits highlighting the various violations that women ex-
perience during conflict situations, how this affects women's empow-
erment as well as the role of the community in peace building will be 
broadcasted on radio as well as presented in Luwero district (one of 
the post conflict areas in Central Uganda). The drama skits will be 
presented during the entire period as a way of stimulating debate on 
violence against women and challenging the communities to desist from 
acts that contribute to the escalation of conflicts and violation of 
women's rights.

Regional Exchange Workshop

The Isis-WICCE Regional Exchange Workshop on the theme: "Women Build-
ing Peace and Good Neighbourliness in the Great Lakes Region from the 
Grassroots to Government" will run from 2nd 11th December 2002. The 
workshop brings together women leaders in the Great Lakes region 
(Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda), to equip them 
with skills that empower them to actively engage in peace building 
and conflict resolution activities and campaigns.

The workshop will be held in Burundi in collaboration with the 
Women's Peace Center of Search for Common Ground, Bujumbura, Burundi. 
The training is scheduled during the 16 days of Activism to enable 
participants share experiences on the various rights abuses as well 
as coming up with strategies and resolutions that call for an end to 
discrimination and violation of women's rights especially in situa-
tions of armed conflict.


--
Ms. Juliet Were
Uganda
mailto:isis@starcom.co.ug

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