Remarks at the National Launch of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign 2023

It is a profound honour to be here today as we launch the 2023 National Campaign for the 16 Days of Activism under the theme “UNiTE! Invest to Prevent and Respond to Violence against Women and Girls.” This annual global campaign, running from the 25th of November to the 10th of December, signifies a crucial period for us to deeply reflect on the pervasive issue of gender-based violence and recommit ourselves to its eradication.

For too many years, we have come together to shed light on the pressing issue. And despite commendable progress - it remains a significant impediment to achieving the rights of women and girls and, consequently, overall development in Uganda.

This year’s theme underscores a fundamental truth: investing in the prevention and response to violence against women and girls is not just a moral imperative but a strategic necessity. It requires comprehensive action across multiple sectors to address the root causes and consequences of this deeply entrenched issue.

In Uganda, nearly one in three women has experienced some form of violence in their lifetime.   More than half of women experience sexual or physical violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime, and this number rises even higher when we include other forms of violence – including economic, emotional and work place violence, amongst other forms[1] These numbers are a sobering reality that demands our immediate attention and unwavering commitment. This reality is not just a statistic—it represents the lives and dignity of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends. It is a stark reminder of the urgent need to intensify our efforts in ending this cycle of violence and creating a society where every woman and girl can live free from fear and harm.

The volume of women and girls affected serves as a poignant reminder that our journey toward achieving gender equality is far from complete.

It underscores the urgency and collective responsibility we bear in addressing the root causes and consequences of gender-based violence.

The United Nations remains steadfast in supporting the Government of Uganda's efforts to eliminate gender-based violence. Through the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework, our programmes strengthen legal frameworks, enhance access to justice, deliver services, and promote comprehensive efforts on social norm change.

Encouragingly, we are witnessing positive changes.

In the Justice Sector, increased capacity and equipment for police have boosted their ability to investigate GBV cases. In addition, the judiciary continues to hold special GBV court sessions and plans to institutionalize GBV courts, in an effort to address the backlog on reported cases of GBV. This has led to the improved processing of critical evidence, higher conviction rates and increased deliverance of justice for survivors.

On 7 August 2023, the Republic of Uganda deposited the instrument of ratification of the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) with the Director-General of the ILO. This makes Uganda the 32nd country in the world, and the 8th in Africa, to ratify Convention No. 190, the first international labour standard to address violence and harassment in the world of work. The Convention provides a common framework for action and a unique opportunity to shape a future of work based on dignity and respect, and protection for women and girls.

The UN country team expresses its dedicated commitment to supporting the government, employers, and workers' organizations in the seamless integration and operationalization of the convention. This collaborative effort aims to foster an environment where the principles enshrined in the convention become integral to the workplace, ensuring a more secure and respectful future for all.

In the workplace, the UN has partnered with the private sector to create equitable workplaces through establishment of policies and reporting mechanisms on sexual harassment and violence, eliminating gender-pay gaps and increasing numbers of female workers in decision-making positions. This has included some of the biggest private sector companies in Uganda – such as MTN, Stanbic Bank, Centenary Bank, Diamond Trust Bank, Housing Finance, National Housing and Construction Corporation among others, who we are now going beyond to ensure not only are they providing an equal and safe work environment, but are taking measures to achieve greater parity in their workforce and in supply chains.

And the message is reaching communities - in 2022 alone, the UN supported government and partners to reach over 18 million people in Uganda through multimedia campaigns, community dialogues, and events challenging harmful practices and gender norms[2].

These achievements are the result of partnerships with the Government and development partners - including Sweden, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Ireland, Austria and Denmark, the European Union and others, who are funding this work.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I want to recognize that we are in increasingly difficult times.

Successive global crisis – from COVID, regional and global conflicts, climate related disasters, and economic shocks – have impacted our work both in development and humanitarian response.

At a time when we are facing increased demand, we are also experiencing decreased resources.

It is in these times that partnerships with different actors are critical – including the private sector and also funding support from development partners, and I implore them to keep prioritizing this work.

However equally, we need to find sustainable ways to systematically fund this work and deepen the understanding that this is intricately linked to achieving greater development results. As stated by the Secretary-General in his message for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women:

“From sexual harassment and abuse to femicide – the violence takes many forms. But all are rooted in structural injustice, cemented by millennia of patriarchy. We still live in a male-dominated culture that leaves women vulnerable by denying them equality in dignity and rights.

We all pay the price: our societies are less peaceful, our economies less prosperous, our world less just. But a different world is possible.”

So as we gather here today in Kiryandongo, I call on the national Government and District Local Governments to increase funding allocations at all levels to violence prevention and response – including norm change initiatives as prioritised under the NDPIII programme on Community Mobilisation & Mindset Change.

Efforts towards the economic transformation of communities need to go hand in hand with efforts to remove barriers that are preventing their participation in the first place. 

In closing, let us remember that the 16 Days of Activism is not just a campaign; it is a call to action.

A call to unite, to advocate, and to stand up against gender-based violence.

By working together, we can transform our societies into places where equality, dignity, and respect prevail.

[1] 56% of ever-partnered women experiencing physical and/or sexual violence in their lifetime – UBOS Violence in Uganda Survey 2021

[2] The campaigns included “Make Happiness Not Violence” (1.4 million), “Save the Girl Save the Nation” and ending teenage pregnancy/child marriage (7.6 million), End Trafficking in Persons (3.4 million), and “Men are Stars - Abaami Munyenye” to end HIV – all results taken from UN Uganda Annual Report 2022