Bugiri, (UG):- The Eastern and Southern Africa Small-scale Farmers’ Forum (ESAFF Uganda) in partnership with the La Via Campesina have sensitized local leaders, technical staff and farmers in Bugiri district on how to fight gender-based violence and have safer families with food and other basics of life.
This is part of their activities during the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence which started on November 25, and ended on December 25, 2024, with a theme of; there is no excuse for violence against women and girls, time to act now.
The sensitization meeting that was conducted on Tuesday at Kibimba primary school at Buyebe A village, Buwuni parish in Buwuni town council, was attended by local leaders and other technical staff like the district probation officer and farmers who are members of the ESAFF.
The sensitisation was steered mostly by La Via Campesina ambassadors who ESAFF recently trained on how to support small-scale farmers through sensitization on gender-based violence such that they come to understand that GBV doesn’t affect them only but a number of people in the society.
The farmers and other people were served with a document stipulated by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP) and other people working in rural areas to understand their rights and how they can raise their voices to protect their rights in line of gender-based violence while knowing the laws that protect their rights.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas, also known as UNDROP, is a UN declaration on human rights that internationally recognizes peasants’ rights as political subjects, peasants’ struggles, as well as their special relationship with Mother Earth.
It was approved by the UN General Assembly in December 2018, following 17 years of mobilization and negotiations led by La Via Campesina, the world’s largest movement of peasant food producers, and its allies. UNDROP is historic because, for the first time, the realities and needs of peasants and rural communities are addressed through human rights and states’ obligations.
Ms. Nabwami Christine, one of the champions of UNIDROP and the chairperson of ESAFF Uganda in Mityana District said the provisions in the UNIDROP document argue that leaders should include grassroots people whenever they come up with bylaws and other laws governing the people.
“We shared information about UNIDROP document and asked the leaders to consider the document whenever they come up with laws because it is intended to advocate for the rights of peasants and other grass root people,” Ms. Nabwami said arguing that some of the peasants don’t know the existing laws that protect their rights.
A number of champions shared their stories on gender-based violence where one of them narrated her ordeal when her matrimonial husband beat her up and sold off whatever she had acquired including their home. Another one (a widow) shared about how she battled in court to secure her husband’s land from clan members who wanted to sell it. This was after his death in 2002 the Kony insurgency.
However, during the meeting, it was established that some issues of gender-based violence are resulting from failure by people to make wills and this causes widows and orphans to suffer at the hands of heirs and other clan members. The participants were advised to make wills to save others from GBV cases.
The senior probation officer in Bugiri District Mr Mwondha Deogratius said GBV has crippled the development of families and the community, asking victims to report such cases to authorities. He noted poverty, the use of alcohol and opium, and culture, among others as the major causes of GBV in communities of Bugiri District.
Mr. Bagaga Ronald from ESAFF Uganda said the 16 days of activism are aimed at eliminating acts that promote GBV and that the engagement unearthed concerns by the women mostly. He said that a number of men go through such violence but have chosen to keep quiet.
“Many of our people in homes are victims of GBV and we have established that women are suffering most, while men fear to report such cases. Some people don’t make wills and when they die, clan members fight widows and orphans while others who are disabled may be treated inhumanely in most cases,” Mr Bagaga said.
He added that it is time that everyone acts against GBV as it causes suffering in families and sometimes deaths. The champions of UNDROP who were recently trained by ESAFF Uganda on sensitization against GBV have been key in tasking government bodies and agencies to adopt the UNDROP concepts in their actions.
The chairperson of Buyebe A village Mr.Wandira said stable families without GBV will always have food and children will study. The engagement was attended by among others the ESAFF chairperson women forum who doubles as the ESAFF national board vice chairperson.
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