Florence Okio
17 July 2008
(Page 2 of 2)
Among the women I talked to, only few managed to come through the rehabilitation centers like GUSCO, World Vision International Caritas and other CSOs who were at that time providing counseling and material support to the formerly abducted children. After staying for some months at the center, the children were then re-united with their relatives and care taker. Some of them did not get the opportunity to come back home through the counseling center which made it very difficult for them to cope up with the home life.
By the time of my interaction with them, almost all the child mothers tried to get new husbands but could managed to stay because of the violence caused by the men and the frequent stigmatization and name calling from the community and have decided to remain single. The young women said they have always been abused as "rebels not fit to be wives because they have committed atrocities and their children too should not mix with other children". This kind of attitudes the women feel has resulted to discrimination of the formally abducted children who should have instead been incorporated in the society.
The young mothers said they are denied financial support by their husbands because of the other children they came back with from captivity. The men according them beat up the children which from time to time bringing violence between them with a lot of bitterness in their hearts. The child mothers said it was not their interest to go to the bush to join the rebels, so why should they and their children be treated like that. The men they produced with while in the bush were just given to them forcefully without a choice and there fore should not be blamed for that. No woman will ever leave her child behind even in difficult times and that is why they have decided to come home with them, the women lamented. Some of the men where killed while others remained in the bush and since they did not know where their homes are and were not introduced officially, they cannot trace the family of the father of their children.
The constant stigma and discrimination and the name-calling is something that the returnees have been subjected to which needs to be addressed. Even if these women try to abandon their marriages because of the constant violence, back in their families and neighbors they still face the same kind of attitude.
There are increased reports of rape/defilement in the affected districts from both the Police and NGOs, largely as a result of increases sensitization to gradually break the silence of the issue. A total of 116 cases were reported by COOPI, one of the implementing partners during the SGBV sub cluster meeting that happened between April and August 2007.The survivors suffered from trauma and physical damage and at risk of unwanted pregnancy and HIV/AIDS infection. In case of pregnancy the girls drop out of school and face stigma from their friends, families and the community. Psychosocial support in this case is very essential together with specific skills to work with the survivors, their families and communities. Some of the NGOs including ACORD have been responding to these in their operational areas, but the demand has increased due to the inadequate service providers in the District as well as referrals from the few specialized interventions. There is need to expand response coverage in particular within an effective district referral system.
The low status society attaches to women is the major cause of domestic violence, aright activist has said. "Right from the day a girl is born to the time she completes school, society looks at her as inferior "Said Hope Tuyasingura, a director at the centre for domestic violence prevention. In Acholi culture for example, children are given names according to the situation and usually most names are associated with SGBV like "Akanyo" meaning the women has gone through a lot of hard ship.
The situation in Northern Uganda is now improving with people moving back from the mother camps to their original ancestral homes. But the SGBV scenario seems to escalate with the struggle for land ownership between the people. Widows, single women, orphans and other vulnerable children are being denied access to land. In Acholi culture, women do not have control over land but can access it through the clan leaders and their husbands. The traditional justice system is not doing enough to protect the rights of women and children. Many NGOs are trying to support the local government by sensitizing the community about the need to promote and protect the fundamental human rights and provide justice though fair trials.
STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE IN THE IDP CAMPS
- Strengthen capacity of community groups, CBOs, schools (including students, teachers, parents, PTAs) and Local Government to raise awareness on SGBV, causes and consequences, SGBV guiding principles and referral pathways for response.
- Work with SGBV protection committees, women groups and other community stakeholders to identify prevention strategies and support their implementation.
- Implement outreach activities with mobile teams in order to cover return sites.
- Build on the existing network services to develop referral pathways for survivors with due regard to confidentiality in return areas.
- Create an emergency hot line and provide emergency transport in order to respond to 100% of SGBV survivors to access medical and justice services.
- Develop strategies in conjunction with the Local Authorities and communities to increase ownership and sustainability.
- Develop a media strategy for public education and advocacy on SGBV.
- Conduct a research and study to generate data and information for effective planning, programming, advocacy and Policy advocacy
- Develop Advocacy strategy for dialogue and engagement with duty bearers for the prevention and protection of survivors and adequate dealings with perpetrators; law enforcement to prevent violation and punishment of perpetrators.
- Enhancing Sexual and Gender Based Violence sensitivity in Health Sector and Community Development Department.
Although Sexual and Gender Based Violence against women is a global problem, adequate and comprehensive SGBV programs are still lacking. All SGBV programs must include both prevention and response strategies in order to be most effective. Prevention activities target the root cause and contributing factors of SGBV while response activities target the consequences, or outcomes, of SGBV.
*Florence Okio is Gender Justice Programme Officer for ACORD Gulu.
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New York Philharmonic Orchestra –How some members sexually abuse young college girls? This behavior not only exists in the classical music world (it is so easy for these musicians during private lessons to use emotional/sexual abuse, blame, anger, the promise of a job with the orchestra, a little physical force and many of these young college girls go into denial or are not believed by the authorities.) I know the exact teachers in the NY Philharmonic who are doing this; destroying young lives. When they get what they want, they humiliate and kick out the girl for a new one. All of them are married. Recently, a clarinetist was charged with this type of rape and only spoke to by Lincoln Center. I guess matters like this must be kept quiet since money and benefactors are involved. It also must be happening in other universities and not only in music but other departments. Women must be made aware of this problem that they are not alone with this nightmare and flashbacks. Thanks,