Remarks at the national commemoration of Human Right Day 2020

• The Minister of State for Disability and Elderly Affairs - Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Hon. Sarah Kanyike  
• The Ambassador of France to Uganda,
• The Acting Chairperson, Uganda Human Rights Commission;
• Dear colleagues Heads of UN Agencies
• The President Uganda Law Society, The Head of Progams GiZ,
• ASP Uganda Police Force, representative of the Electoral Commission
• The Chairperson National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda, Member of Parliaments,
• Ladies and Gentlemen.

I am honoured to address you as we commemorate Human Rights Day, at the climax of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence and in the difficult circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. This Human Rights Day comes as Uganda and the world struggle with the impact of COVID-19, as modern slavery has increased; as hate speech rages; as online bullying takes its toll; as economic opportunities shrink; and as Uganda prepares to go for elections.

In his Human Right Day Message UN Secretary-General, António Guterres notes that, “the COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups including frontline workers, people with disabilities, older people, women and girls, and minorities.” In Uganda, the lock down and the enforcement of other measures taken to curb the spread of COVID-19 led to an increase in Human Rights violations manifested through significant spikes in violence against women and children, teenage pregnancies, sexual exploitation, and child marriage. Reports from refugee settlements indicate that gender-based violence increased by 55% during the lockdown and has remained at unacceptably high levels - with physical assault and rape among the most reported abuses. These startling figures require urgent action. The UN completed a comprehensive joint study on the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that restrictive measures on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) had likely sent 46% of workers employed in informal businesses, 43 % in hospitality industry and 41% in trading and services, into poverty or business closure. Most of those at risk are women and youth.

In this context, the UN system in Uganda reprogrammed to focus interventions on addressing these issues and we were able to sustain critical operations during the COVID-19 lockdown in order to keep the bridge to the most vulnerable alive. Our continued operations also enabled us to bring to decision makers examples of gaps in plans being developed to support economic recovery. Despite COVID19, we have reinforced partnerships with the private sector to address those most at risk of being left behind such as the recent joint facility with Stanbic focused on SACOOS and village saving groups. Human Rights must become the foundation for economic growth, digital job creation, investment in access to quality healthcare and supporting transformational governance. Human rights is about recognizing everyone regardless of age, gender, race, religion, ethnicity or political affiliation as a person with the right to dignity, safety and prosperity.

Uganda, home to some 42 million people, is the world’s second youngest nation, home to the second largest community of refugees and includes an estimated 56% of women. This means that every step we take in Uganda’s journey towards sustainable prosperity must create space for women and youth. I am delighted that today we will be honouring four young people who participated in an essay competition on how to recover better by putting human rights at the core of the COVID-19 recovery. Solutions from the youth on how the country should recover, are commendable, and reflect how young people should be contributing to national processes, fostering peace, especially in the electoral period. As the UN we have worked with the youth to develop our national cooperation strategy for the next five years, we have launched the One Million SDG Solutions Innovation Challenge and shared the profiles of the top 40 submissions with partners and are currently working with the National SDG Secretariat and the Youth SDG Coalition to support peace messaging during the current challenging period. Youth can and must be part of inter-generational dialogues on issues, sources of frustrations, values and solutions.

At this juncture, I would like to invite us to recognize that there are 35 days to the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections on 14th January 2021. I would like to call on all stakeholders to be champions of tolerance, knowledge, dialogue and peaceful co-existence during the next 100 days. It is unfortunate that recent events in different parts of the country have included physical confrontations that claimed the lives of so many, incitement, hate speech and misinformation in political gatherings, on social media and other gatherings. Sustaining peace is a shared responsibility and a common good  for all in this country. We must avoid a repetition of recent events and enhance actions such as dialogue and coordination that will help sustain an enabling environment going forward.

Before I conclude, I would like to use this opportunity to launch the new website of the United Nations system in Uganda - uganda.un.org This website is about transparency, awareness and the transfer of knowledge, it is about ensuring that all people in Uganda can gain a better understanding of the UN work, our plans, partners and contributions to bringing the SDGs to life. I invite you to read UN publications such as the Uganda UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021 -2025, which articulates the UN’s collective response to support the Government of Uganda in addressing national priorities towards meeting third National Development Plan (NDPIII) and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. Other key publications available include the Rwenzori Region investment profiles for Agriculture, Tourism, Human Capital Development, Extractives and Mineral Benefication, and Infrastructure and Services as part  of the Rwenzori Agri-LED innovative approach; the UN Reform Milestones in Uganda and the Socio-Economic Impact analysis of COVID-19 in Uganda. There are also videos and articles by UN agencies and partners as well as a virtual press corner and media contacts for all UN agencies in Uganda. Read, share and engage. We invite you to use this information in your work and events.

My concluding reflection: This year’s aspiration to ensure Human Rights are at the center of the recovery processes from the COVID-19 pandemic requires the active involvement of all stakeholders including the Government, civil society, private sector, cultural institutions, religious leaders among others. We have a shared responsibility to take action informed by universal values. The work of the United Nations is informed by two critical instruments, the UN Charter and the 2030 Agenda including its 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The Charter calls on us to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small. SDG 16 calls on us to promote just, peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development by strengthening just institutions, promoting the rule of law and supporting efforts to ensure equal access to justice for all. The SDGs are linked to the AU vision 2063 part of this alignment can also be found in critical treaties such as the AFRICAN CHARTER ON DEMOCRACY, ELECTIONS AND GOVERNANCE which “ emphasises the significance of good governance, popular participation, the rule of law and human rights; reaffirming our collective will to work relentlessly to deepen and consolidate the rule of law, peace, security and development in our countries;” these values can also be found in the Ugandan 1995 constitution which emphasizes: “the exercise and enjoyment of rights and freedoms is inseparable from the performance of duties and obligations. It therefore imposes on all citizens the duty, among others to promote democracy and the rule of law.” We can only succeed together.

On behalf of the UN in Uganda, I reiterate our commitment to work with all partners through our UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2021-2025 to support peace, development and the realization of aspirations of the Constitution of Uganda, the National Vision 2040 and the SDGs. I wish to recognize the partnership between the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) and civil society, especially during these unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic. I invite the government of Uganda to expedite the appointment of a new chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission in order to help reinforce its efforts and leadership.I wish you all a happy International Human Rights Day. Thank you very much for listening

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