Policy
- It is essential to empower women to enable them effectively participate in issues of peace, security and development. The Government of Uganda has taken a deliberate policy for empowerment of women through affirmative action initiatives. They include: providing for one Woman representative per district in Parliament, a third of local council executive positions to be occupied by women, and award of 1.5 points to female candidates for admission to public universities, as well as universal primary and secondary education for all children . Through these initiatives, women’s participation in governance has been greatly enhanced.
- Uganda launched its National Action Plan for Security Council Resolutions 1325, 1820 as well as the Goma Declaration in December 2008. The Action Plan highlights specific commitments and duties of the Government and stakeholders, identifies priority interventions for the short and medium term. It also apportions institutional responsibilities and establishes a mechanism for coordination, monitoring and reporting.
- In the next 5 years, Uganda will be developing a comprehensive national policy on gender-based violence to guide prevention and response efforts in all situations, including in the humanitarian and development contexts. We shall also establish sustainable and integrated systems of collecting data on gender-based violence and improve access to justice for victims and survivors.
- We are also institutionalizing gender-based violence training in key institutions for the training of security forces including those involved in peacekeeping missions.
- Uganda is already carrying out legislative reforms to address the remaining gender inequalities and violence against women in both public and private sectors. We are also working on integrating the principles of the resolutions 1325 and 1820 in the National Development Plan implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes.
Other/General
- At the regional level, through the African Union, East African Community, and the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region, Uganda is committed to strengthening collaboration on enhancing women’s participation and empowerment in conflict prevention, mediation, and resolution. We are convinced that women have an important role to play in ensuring durable peace, security, and development.
Commitments made on October 26, 2010 (see SC Open Debate)
- Among others, Uganda pledges to make concrete commitments in the areas of developing a comprehensive national policy on gender-based violence to guide prevention and response efforts in or settings. Then, to establish sustainable and integrated systems of collecting data on gender-based violence. On the orientation of our national security forces about resolution 1325, and integrate key principles of the resolutions in peacekeeping missions. As well as to institutionalize gender-based violence training in the [constitutions] of professional training of security forces. We commit to legislative reforms to address gender inequalities and violence against women in both public and private spheres.
- Uganda commits to integrating the principles of resolutions 1325 and 1820 in national development plans implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes. We commit strengthening regional collaboration on matters of violence against women, in conflict settings through organs such as East African Community, the international conference of the great lakes region and the African Union. We commit strengthening multi-sectoral coordination of prevention and response to gender-based violence and improving access to justice for victims.
- Uganda commits to the implementation of gender-responsiveness budgeting as part of the annual budget process and ensuring that our national action plan on 1325 is implemented through a multi-sectoral approach.We commit to monitoring gender violence and representation of women on decision-making committees and other bodies. We commit strengthening collaboration with civil society organizations in preventing and responding to gender-based violence. And finally, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you all to participate in the ministerial-level meeting on 29th of October 2010. And the Ugandan presidency of the Security Council to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 1325.
Extract from statement made at the “A 1325 Call to Action” event, September 25, 2010