Promoting Gender Inclusion in Recovery
On February, 27th 2019, 20kms east of Pader district, AYINET held a gender dialogue in Oyuku village in Latanya sub county. Over 200 residents, political and cultural leaders attended this public dialogue that aimed at promoting gender inclusion in Transitional Justice processes, combating gender-based violence and reducing forced and child marriages.
The dialogue is a part of a broader gender POWER campaign geared towards providing opportunities for Women Empowerment and recovery in the greater northern region thereby providing a platform to promote equal gender roles.
In Latanya; leaders are finding ways to help empower and involve women; they mobilize the women into various groups so as to help them gain in terms of technical skills and financial empowerment. This has promoted women participation and leadership although mostly deputy or assistant positions.
However, on the flip side of the coin, it has brewed dissatisfaction among the men, who, accordingly, are rubbed the wrong way, resulting into more sexual and gender-based violence. The men complain that when women are into leadership, they “become proud and big headed and start looking down on the men.”
Many of the participants acknowledged over drinking as a main cause of violence in homes. Other issues included; Family planning, where the women go without the consent or knowledge of men, lack of trust, proper planning and cooperation when trading food stuff after harvests and producing too many children.
“There is too much poverty and drunkenness in this place, you find people are ever bitter and angry. The war caused dependency syndrome, people were gathered in camps, woke up in the morning sat around and waited for handouts and food relief.” Anek Joyce, the sub county chief lamented.
As ways forward, cultures that oppress women should be stopped. The subcounty LC III, also encouraged women to show up with their partners as they get loans from UWEP (Uganda Women Empowerment Program) for livelihood enhancement projects.
There were concerns over a 13-year-old cohabiting with a 14-year-old boy; they were urged to report such cases to the sub county for help. Married women in leadership were also urged to respect their husbands.
The gender public dialogues engage key stakeholders in the fight against Gender based violence, increase awareness on gender equality, rights and responsibilities and sensitize on women’s inclusion in decision making and leadership.
AYINET implements this intervention with support from the Democratic Governance Facility.