Uganda Police has joined hands with other partners to intensify the fight against Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country.
The Director Research, Planning and Development, AIGP Edward Ochom has urged the community and partners to join hands and respond to the cry of women and girls in respective communities.
His remarks stem from the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, an International Campaign which takes place every year commencing from 25th November, the international day for the elimination of violence against Women to 10th December.
It was initiated by activists at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and it is commemorated and coordinated each year by the Centre for Women’s Global Leadership.
This time, a caravan has been put in place to traverse the country and help during the 12 days activism in sensitization of the masses in the fight against gender-based violence
He said the force’s commitment is as per the constitutional mandate, cooperation with civilian agencies in protecting life and property of all citizens in the country.
The force joins the global community in making a statement on behalf of women and girls suffering from gender based violence.
He further explained that; “According to the crime report 2018 presented in May 2019, it showed a decrease in the volume of crimes by 5.25 per cent and on the other hand an increase in sexual related crimes with 17,521 as compared to 16,862 indicating 659 increase.”
He said that violence is experienced by both women and men in Uganda and stands at 51 per cent which is far above the African average of about 37.7 per cent.
Ochom revealed that, Police has set up structures such as Sexual Gender Based Violence desk, Child and Family Protection Unit, Women Affairs and Community Liaison Offices to respond to the cry of battered women and girls.
The Swedish Ambassador to Uganda, Per Lindgarde, said; “Human rights and access to justice for women and girls is core of Sweden’s intervention in Uganda and working with Uganda Police is of great important when it comes to increased access to justice for women and girls and women’s economic empowerment.”
He said Sweden pledges continued support to the justice sector in terms of capacity building of formal justice actors.
He noted that it will focus on the entire justice chain from entry to exit in terms of investigating, prosecuting and adjudicating GBV cases in a gender responsive, victim-centred and trauma-informed matter.
