Sexual and gender-based violence in Lira, a region of northern Uganda, is on the rise. In 2014, 3,845 reports of sexual violence and 2,603 domestic violence cases were recorded—and those are just the incidents that were reported to police. With the belief that there is no excuse for this violence, Johnson founded Northern Uganda Effort for the Needy (NUEN) to bring the issue to light and work toward a comprehensive solution. Since 2011, NUEN and its partners have held dialogue meetings with 80 policy makers, helped 380 families find justice, and increased awareness of the issue among hundreds of Ugandans. Johnson believes that better policies toward handling sexual and gender-based violence cases and reform of certain cultural and religious practices can help Uganda, Africa, and the world become free of sexual and gender-based violence.

CURRENT UPDATES

Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV), Lira (Uganda).

project description:

In Lira district; Northern Uganda, has suffered from the legacy of two decades conflict/war in terms of increased sexual and domestic vioelnce among women and girls in the region, perpetuated by the men, as a result in 2014, recorded; 7690 sexual violence cases,5205 domestic violence offences, since 2011 as a result of the above problems above, initiatives was launched to empower 10,000 women to demand actions on prevention and remedies provision to victims of Sexual and Gender Based violence by enegaging policy makers, technical staffs and related sector service providers of the local governments in the region, so far, through partnerships; awareness  was created to 200people, dialogue meetings was held with 80 policy makers, and 500 families matters and redress was obtained as justice for the victims.we believe empowering families, better policies, working in partnerships and collaboration and reforming cultural and religious believes will reduce the problem, and, Uganda, Africa, the world, is free of sexual and gender based violence(SGBV).

Our project seeks to:

1.strengthen the Capacity of five (5) staffs and 10 field staffs of the project to be able to deliver quality services during implementation of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) activities in the within three (3) months of the project duration (12 months)

2.create awareness five hundred (10000) house holds of Lira Sub county, Adyel, Ojwina, Lira central, and  Railway Divisions(lira district) on rights to demand better services aimed at reduction of Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) in their communities within six(6)   months of project duration(12 months)

3.train fifty (50) community based monitors in Lira Sub county, Adyel, Ojwina, Lira central, and Railway Divisions (Lira District) action areas to monitor and report cases of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) to relevant stakeholders within two(02) months of the project duration.

4.develop one (1) position paper on Sexual and Gender Based Violence(SGBV) from Lira Sub county, Adyel, Ojwina, Lira central, and  Railway Divisions(lira district) action areas  to demand policy and programmes/ services reforms within one (01) months of the project duration and, the specific activities to achieve this objectives are.:

1.Staffs training and orientation

2.Awareness creation on dangers of SGBV

3.Identification and training of community based monitors

4.Training of Community based monitors

5.Position Paper Development

6.Research and Publications

Update on activities in last six months:

achievements

1.3 staffs and 5 members of the project have been oriented with jinja training ASET AFRICA fellowship training organised by International youth foundation in conjunction with Makerere Univerity business schools(MUBS), redesigning of projects identity, Contribution to the district coalition net and providing technical support to the women and youth groups and opening of Face book page for the project

2.development of project's vision, mission in line with social identity, redesigning organization's internal control systems and strategic plan for the next three years i.e. 2015 to 2018 and increasing  a sustainable revenue for the project through business plan development and submitted to both yunnus business platform and africa opportunity business award.

3.through partnerships; awareness  was created to 200people, dialogue meetings with 40 policy makers  in the follow up with actions on the 16 days of activism held last year which gender based network Africa donated materials for holding the day.

4.Our project has been aligned according to social identity; (organization also realigned) and replicated, there increased transparency and accountability of resources internally, increased contribution to coalition  network (e.g. recent women day celebration, participation in the district coordination meetings, participation in the cso district umbrella organization

challenges:

There is still limited skills and knowledge for staffs and members to accomplish many of the tasks before them,SGBV activities is limited in working with coalitions; which may not best address their needs and problems especially in this earliest stage of the project.

Way forward

Project activities needs to be implemented both directly and in coalition approaches for strong foundation and sustainability; these therefore means increased sourcing for funds both internally and externally and publication of it’s work.

Thanks

Ogula Johnson

Director for project.