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 International Womens Day - 2009  Advocating for women's rights and protection  Promoting and advocating for women's economic empowerment  Prevention of sexualised violence against women and girls  Advocating for women's effective participation in politics and decision making processe  Encouraging the youth to play a vital role in women emancipition |
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Features and Highlights
ACFODE/ KAS EU Project District Training Activities Kick Off
The first of a series of training workshops for local councillors and civil society actors will take place in Masaka district between 16th-21stJanuary 2012. The training workshops being implemented under the EU supported project, “Action for Strengthening Good Governance and Accountability in Uganda” will take place in 11 districts across the four major regions of Uganda. The 11 districts of project implementation include Masaka, Kiboga, Arua, Lira, Pader, Palisa, Jinja, Mbale, Soroti, Kabale, Kisoro and Mbarara.
In Masaka, the training workshop for district councillors started on January 16th, at Golf Lane Hotel. All members of the district council including LC V Chairman, Mr. Joseph Kalungi were in attendance and renowned political scientist and Makerere University Prof. Yasin Olum facilitated the workshop. At the opening, KAS and ACFODE were applauded for their timely intervention especially considering the fact that local government leaders have not been inducted on their roles and responsibilities despite having spent seven months in office following the general elections of 2011. The trainings under the KAS-ACFODE project are therefore expected to play an essential role in increasing local leaders’ awareness of their roles and responsibilities.
Following the councillors’ workshop, the training of CSO trainers on democracy and accountability concepts as well as equipping them with skills and materials to conduct grassroots civic education will be held from January 18th– 21st 2012.
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ACFODE’S COMMEMORATION FOR THE 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM AGAINST VAW
 From the 25th of November to the 10th of December 2011; ACFODE joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 16 Days of Activism against Violence Against Women. This time however, it was not business as usual as a number of innovative approaches were used to raise awareness at the local and national level about violence against women and girls, and how it can be mitigated.
First were the skaters who were clad in white t-shirts with advocacy messages against VAW located on different 6 roundabouts (Clock Tower, Jinja Road, Bwaise, Nateete, Wandegeya and Spear Motors junction) in Kampala distributing information packages on VAW to people in cars, on the streets, shops and in offices on the 25th of November.
Each information pack consisted of a paper bag, fact sheet, ribbon and car sticker. The packs had information about the causes of VAW, its effects, and info on how it can be prevented/ ended. They also had information that challenged receipts to be actors in preventing/ ending VAW by for instance having respect for women and girls, giving necessary support to survivors, speaking out against VAW, encouraging survivors to break the silence, promoting a culture that fronts the protection of women and girls, and reporting any incidences of VAW to the LC or the Police.
After distributing the packs at about 10 am, the skaters headed for a Road Show that started from Buganda Road Play Grounds, to Game Stores in Lugogo. During the road show, the skaters were holding placards with messages advocating for women and girls’ right so that they too are in position to enjoy a peaceful life. Examples of the messages that were embedded on placards include; act now! stop violence against women and girls, we all have a right to be safe: protect women and girls from violence, and violence against women is a violation of human rights. stop it!
In order to reach a wider audience and sensitize more people on women and girls’ rights, ACFODE launched a National Awareness Media Campaign on VAW on CBS Radio on the 25th of November, with spot ads running throughout the 16 Days, challenging Ugandans to prevent, and end all forms of violence against women and girls in their homes, at the work place and in their communities. In order to reinforce the media campaign further, ACFODE was hosted on CBS’s “Kiiriza Oba Gana” talk show on the 1st of December 2011 (International World Aids Day where Hope Turyasingura (ACFODE Member) and Jane Nakintu (Board Member) discussed in depth VAW dynamics, and also talked about the intersection between HIV/AIDS, and VAW.
At Grass root level (29th November), ACFODE was in Pallisa to launch a local/ grass root campaign for 16 Days. A number of activities that were carried out in Pallisa include; a Public March, an Open Forum, a Football Match, and a Dance themed “Dance out VAW in Pallisa District”. All these aimed at creating awareness and challenging community members to protect women and girls from all forms of violence.
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CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GREAT LAKES REGION (ICGLR)
In December 2010, at the request of the ICGLR Regional Women’s Forum, Heads of State agreed to dedicate a special session on the problem of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) and this is going to be fulfilled in the upcoming Heads of State meeting due next week. One day of the Summit will be specifically devoted to a Special Session on SGBV under the theme: “United to Prevent, End Impunity and Provide Support to the Victims of SGBV in the Great Lakes Region.”
In preparation for the Special Session, national, regional and international human rights organizations based in Kenya and Uganda have spearheaded a regional process to mobilize civil society organizations in the Great Lakes region to participate in deliberations leading up to the Summit.
The CSO Engagement, which is taking place from the from today the 9th of December 2011 to the 10 at Speke Resort Munyonyo is aimed at promoting clear and consistent messaging on SGBV experiences and demands to Heads of State for immediate commitment and tangible action, empowering local and national women’s rights groups in the region to speak for themselves, and to ensure that their voices are heard at high level decision making platforms, and are in line with international and regional treaties and agreements. This engagement will involve a number of activities namely; parallel sessions on SGBV in the Great Lakes region, presidential mock debate, and an exhibition.
As CSOs in the Great Lakes region, and as actors of social change, we consider this as a good opportunity for our leaders to provide a lasting solution to the problem of SGBV.
ACFODE CELEBRATES 26TH ANNIVERSARY
 On the 18th of November 2011, ACFODE celebrated 26 years of existence. Reasons for celebration were as varied as the women on mother earth. We celebrated because more women and girls have been empowered socially, politically and economically as they learn to read and write and, often for the first time, since the state and families are investing in girls' education. We were also pleased that women are living longer and healthier lives and that more of us are surviving childbirth as we gain greater access to health care and reproductive services. We also see throughout Uganda that women are discovering a new level of economic independence. They're contributing more to their families and communities. They're gaining access to credit and jobs that can give them a decent standing of living.
ACFODE Day was s a day to commemorate women's struggle for change, to celebrate the progress ACFODE has made towards improvement of quality of life of women, and to lay a strategy for the future. It was also a day for reaffirming ACFODE’s commitment to the liberation of women, and to the promotion of the gender equality agenda.
It is heartening that the day was, and continues to be marked annually by ACFODE staff, members and beneficiaries. This year, ACFODE hit a land mark of 26 years in existence; and celebrated being at the front lines in the battle for women’ empowerment through advocacy for the protection of their rights and dignity as it is the mother of women’s empowerment in this country.
The day was graced with Women Members of Parliament, CSO representatives, representatives from the donor community, dignitaries from the government, as well as ACFODE members, staff and beneficiaries. Among the many action packed events was a Press Conference on VAW & Peace, cultural entertainment from Rainbow House of Hope, and a dinner which was companied by jazz music from Ife.
Remarks were given by ACFODE’s Chairperson Ms. Gertrude Ssekabira, the Executive Director Ms. Regina Bafaki, and one of the founder members Dr. Hilda Tadria – all of whom commended the ACFODE fraternity for the work well done.
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