Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) Executive Director and Women’s Rights Activist Rita Aciro Lakor was on Thursday announced the winner of the EU Human Rights Defenders’ Award 2021.
The award which is given annually by the European Union and Norway to recognize an outstanding contribution by a human rights defender in Uganda was presented to her during a ceremony held on Thursday, April 29, at the residence of Germany’s Ambassador in Kampala.
Rita Aciro was chosen as the winner in recognition of her outstanding work to advance the role of girls and women in all aspects of life in Uganda.
For many years, Ms. Aciro worked on topics including women’s land rights, women at the margins, women in peacebuilding, rights, and access to justice, economic rights, and justice for women. In the past year, Ms. Aciro has played a leading role in efforts to promote the rights of women during Uganda’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and during the recently-concluded election period.
Because of her work to advance women’s rights and democratic freedoms, Ms. Aciro has faced consequences including the freezing of her organisation’s bank account for several months.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Ambassador of Germany to Uganda His Excellency Matthias Schauer said “Human Rights need to be defended all over the world, and Human Right Defenders have a hard time in many countries.”
He added, “Fortunately all over the world and also in Uganda there are people with courage and determination who will speak out for Human Rights and in particular for disadvantaged groups and support them – overcoming many obstacles and often making great personal sacrifices.”
Upon receiving the award, Ms. Aciro said it was an honour to accept it “on behalf of the invisible Human/ Women Rights Defenders in the homes, communities and public spaces who may never have the opportunity to have the spot light and stage and yet who are doing a credible job in giving voice to women and girl’s rights.”
The award ceremony was attended by European Ambassadors, civil society leaders, government representatives, Members of Parliament and human rights defenders.
Past winners of the EU HRD Award include Mr Gerald Kankya (2012) of Twerwaneho Listeners Club, Mr Geoffrey Wokulira Ssebaggala (2013) former Coordinator of Human Rights Network for Journalists (HRNJ), the three joint winners (2014) Ms Gladys Canogura of Kitgum Women Peace Initiative, Assistant Commissioner of Police Christine Alalo, Head of the Uganda Police Family and Child Protection Unit, and Mr Mohammed Ndifuna, Director of the Human Rights Network Uganda.
Others include Dr. Livingstone Sewanyana (2015), Founder & Executive Director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) and Robert Sempala (2016) of the Human Rights Network of Journalists (HRNJ), Ms. Pamela Angwech (2017) Founder & Executive Director of the Gulu Women’s Economic Development & Globalization (GWED-G)
While two joint winners in 2018 were Ms. Margaret Arach Orech, Founder and Director of the Uganda Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA) and Mr. Peter Sewakiryanga, a pastor with Kyampisi Childcare Ministries (KCM).
Mr. William Amanzuru (2019) an environmental rights defender and founder of Friends of Zoka; and Mr. Aimé Moninga (2020), Founder of Men of Hope and an advocate for the rights of male survivors of sexual violence in conflict were the recent winners for this award.
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