Deputy CJ Zeija launches ‘Justice for Her’ initiative to combat gender-based violence

Gulu, (UG):- The Deputy Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, Thursday launched a project by UN Women called ‘Justice for Her’ in the judiciary in Gulu High Court in Gulu City. The project aims to combat and reduce gender-based violence (GBV) in the Acholi sub-region.

In 2023, the Ministry of Health, with support from the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, launched a social behaviour change campaign dubbed “Let’s Change Our Stories,” to raise awareness of GBV and a call for support if one is experiencing it.

When it comes to GBV, both men and women can experience GBV, though statistics show that women disproportionately bear the burden. According to Uganda’s 2023 Police Crime Report, out of 15,184 reported domestic violence cases, 10,792 victims were female adults compared to 3,243 male adults

UN Women works to advance women’s access to justice, promoting gender-responsive justice systems and addressing barriers to justice for women and girls affected by conflict and violence.

At the launch, Dr. Zeija emphasized the need to address the many cases of GBV affecting women in the region. He pledged the judiciary’s total support for the project, committing to work with UN Women to reduce GBV among women and young girls.

“As the judiciary system, we pledge our support and commit to working together to eradicate gender-based violence against women and girls in the Acholi region,” the Deputy CJ remarked.

Zeija also attributed some cultural practices in the region as contributing factors to gender-based violence within families. These cultures often emphasize male dominance, suppressing women’s voices and perpetuating inequality

Hon. Justice Philips Odoki, Senior Resident Judge at Gulu High Court, noted that Gulu High Court has registered at least 1876 cases, with 867 of those cases related to GBV. “We need to join hands in the fights against gender-based violence because our people are suffering silently without being supported”

Odoki also appealed to stakeholders to create awareness about the dangers of gender-based violence, informing the public about its risks in a bid to enlist their help in curbing its rise in the region

He also emphasized collective action to mitigate gender-based violence (GBV) in the Acholi sub-region is timely and crucial, considering the region has been through war for about 20 years.

Many women in the region have been forced to abandon their cases due to fear of taking them to court, highlighting the need for a supportive and non-intimidating environment for victims to seek justice

In Acholi, GBV is often perpetuated by harmful social norms and practices, such as land conflicts and high bride prices, which can lead to physical, emotional, and economic abuse. The situation is further complicated by the fact that many women are unaware of their rights and the support services available to them.

Ms. Adekemi Ndieli, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women, stressed the importance of bringing perpetrators of GBV to justice and recognizing the need for data collection and analysis to inform interventions. “We need to set a system where it will be easy for the victim of gender-based violence to have justice without being delay in court”

Adekemi emphasizes the importance of justice systems that are sensitive to the needs and experiences of women suffering from gender-based violence, ensuring they are not discriminated against or face unique challenges in accessing justice

She also appealed to the stakeholders to join hands and work together to ensure women and girls are being rescued from gender-based violence

Pamella Lamunu Ocaya, Chief Registrar of Gulu High Court, noted that the program commenced with training officers and appealed to them to utilize their newly acquired skills to help protect against gender-based violence in the region.

“It’s time for us to rise up and protect the rights of women and girls, especially those in rural villages who often suffer in silence without reporting their cases,” she said.

Lamunu appealed to stakeholders to establish platforms for disseminating information about gender-based violence, enabling communities in the Acholi sub-region to understand its dangers and consequences so that it makes it easy to stop it spread

Innocent Otto, a resident of Gulu City, appealed to UN Women to also consider the plight of men, highlighting that many men suffer in silence due to fear of reporting cases of abuse perpetrated by women. “We, too, have endured pain and torture at the hands of women, yet no one seems to acknowledge or advocate for the rights of men in the Acholi region.”

He further noted that the emphasis on women’s rights has led to a shift in dynamics, causing some women to lose respect for men. According to him, the knowledge of having legal backing and protection has emboldened women, resulting in some men feeling intimidated.”

A 2023 report by the Ministry of Gender, Labor, and Social Development ranks the Acholi Sub-region as having the highest prevalence of GBV at 78 per cent and sexual violence at 64 per cent, followed by Bukedea at 61 per cent.