Kampala — UGANDA has joined the rest of the world in celebrating the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. These days start from November 25 to December 10.

This year's theme is 'Our strength is the solution'. By strength, it could be anything from words spoken to positions held in the community.

Women are sexually, physically or psychologically tortured - in worst case scenarios, a woman suffers all of the aforementioned. According to the Uganda Demographic Survey 2006, 60% of women experience physical violence, 39% sexual violence and 16% have experienced violence during pregnancy. These figures are absurd and point to the fact that some measures need to be taken immediately to drastically reduce these figures.

What is even more absurd is that some men who are guilty of committing sexual violence against women do not even think they have committed an offence.

Sexual violence limits women's power over themselves; exposes them to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; and unwanted pregnancy.

These 16 days of activism should be a time for all the relevant stakeholders to reflect on the gravity on the situation. Victims should be sensitised about the importance of preserving evidence so that the perpetrators can be dealt with by the law. The punishments meted out to them must also be severe.

We also need community efforts to stop and prevent sexual violence before it happens.