1

INTERVENTIONS ON INTERVENTIONS ON SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED

VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN UGANDA VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN UGANDA

SYMPOSIUM ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN CONFLICT SYMPOSIUM ON VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN CONFLICT SITUATIONS.SITUATIONS.

BRUSSELS 21BRUSSELS 21STST 23 23RDRD JUNE 2006 JUNE 2006

JOINT PRESENTATION BY JOINT PRESENTATION BY SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE CLUSTER GROUP SEXUAL AND GENDER BASED VIOLENCE CLUSTER GROUP

IN UGANDA. IN UGANDA. UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNIFEM, UNHCR, IOM, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, UNIFEM, UNHCR, IOM, UNDP,

UNAIDS, GOUUNAIDS, GOU

2

3

BackgroundBackground War between the Government of Uganda and the War between the Government of Uganda and the

Lord’s Resistance Army has lasted over 19 years.Lord’s Resistance Army has lasted over 19 years.

Widespread human rights violations and abuses, Widespread human rights violations and abuses, including abduction, killings and forced including abduction, killings and forced displacement. Majority of abductees are displacement. Majority of abductees are children, girls and women.children, girls and women.

1.6 million persons – 90% of the population in 1.6 million persons – 90% of the population in key districts – live in IDP camps in squalid key districts – live in IDP camps in squalid conditions and abject poverty. Civilian conditions and abject poverty. Civilian administration is weak, policing absent and administration is weak, policing absent and service delivery poor.service delivery poor.

These are the pre-conditions for sexual These are the pre-conditions for sexual exploitation, sexual violence and domestic exploitation, sexual violence and domestic violence.violence.

4

5

SITUATION SITUATION Studies and assessments by GoU, UN Studies and assessments by GoU, UN

agencies and NGOs point to widespread agencies and NGOs point to widespread sexual exploitation, high levels of domestic sexual exploitation, high levels of domestic violence and sexual violence:violence and sexual violence:

““Sex for survival” – men with money and power Sex for survival” – men with money and power (including soldiers, small businessmen, the (including soldiers, small businessmen, the salaried), girls and women economically desperate salaried), girls and women economically desperate or seeking protection. Often abandoned when or seeking protection. Often abandoned when pregnant;pregnant;

Girls most at risk – believed more likely to be HIV Girls most at risk – believed more likely to be HIV negative;negative;

Domestic violence socially tolerated unless Domestic violence socially tolerated unless physical injury ensues or “without reason”. physical injury ensues or “without reason”. Marital rape not a legal offence;Marital rape not a legal offence;

6

SITUATION SITUATION Girls and women collect fuel, thatch and wild Girls and women collect fuel, thatch and wild

foods – risk of rape or extortion using threat of foods – risk of rape or extortion using threat of rape, by soldiers and civilian men. Women report rape, by soldiers and civilian men. Women report girls formerly with LRA at particular risk;girls formerly with LRA at particular risk;

LRA forces abducted girls into “forced marriage” LRA forces abducted girls into “forced marriage” with commanders. Approximately 1,500 formerly with commanders. Approximately 1,500 formerly abducted “child mothers”. abducted “child mothers”.

Families provide some protection from Families provide some protection from exploitation – those without kin most at risk:exploitation – those without kin most at risk:

But desperate families may encourage But desperate families may encourage exploitative relations.exploitative relations.

7

SITUATIONSITUATION

Social and institutional barriers to Social and institutional barriers to reporting rape or domestic violence:reporting rape or domestic violence: Exposure leading to social rejection (fear of Exposure leading to social rejection (fear of

HIV);HIV); Shame, fear of retaliation -- a family matter;Shame, fear of retaliation -- a family matter; Lack of useful services – so why report and Lack of useful services – so why report and

risk exposure? risk exposure?

Civilian police absent from most camps:Civilian police absent from most camps: Reporting costs up to $100, daily income less Reporting costs up to $100, daily income less

than $0.75.than $0.75.

8

SITUATIONSITUATION

Medical, VCT and psychosocial services Medical, VCT and psychosocial services only available in some locations:only available in some locations:

Poor understanding of IASC Guidelines, rights Poor understanding of IASC Guidelines, rights of survivors or established procedures among of survivors or established procedures among key service providers.key service providers.

Clinical policy guidelines on SGBV are now Clinical policy guidelines on SGBV are now being developed for health workers. being developed for health workers.

9

National Policy National Policy EnvironmentEnvironment

National Gender Policy .National Gender Policy .

SGBV recognised in other key policy documents such as SGBV recognised in other key policy documents such as Poverty Eradication Action Plan, Health Policy.Poverty Eradication Action Plan, Health Policy.

Legal framework.Legal framework. Constitution prohibits laws, cultures, customs or traditions Constitution prohibits laws, cultures, customs or traditions

which are against the dignity, welfare of women.which are against the dignity, welfare of women. Defilement is a capital offence.Defilement is a capital offence. The penal code recognises the following offences. Common The penal code recognises the following offences. Common

assault, rape, defilement (capital offence), indecent assault, assault, rape, defilement (capital offence), indecent assault, threatening violence, murder and manslaughter, property threatening violence, murder and manslaughter, property grabbing.grabbing.

Districts have by-laws e.g bylaws against female genital Districts have by-laws e.g bylaws against female genital cutting/mutilation.cutting/mutilation.

10

ACTION: coordination & ACTION: coordination & mappingmapping

All agencies guided by IASC Guidelines All agencies guided by IASC Guidelines for GBV Interventions in Humanitarian for GBV Interventions in Humanitarian Settings. Settings. Uganda one of the countries selected for roll Uganda one of the countries selected for roll

out of IASC guidelines (UNFPA)out of IASC guidelines (UNFPA)

Inter-Agency coordination mechanisms at Inter-Agency coordination mechanisms at national and district levels, within national and district levels, within framework of UN-IASC Protection Cluster framework of UN-IASC Protection Cluster (UNICEF has lead for GBV):(UNICEF has lead for GBV): District level working groups, led by local District level working groups, led by local

authorities, in two districts since 2004;authorities, in two districts since 2004; UN working group meeting at national level UN working group meeting at national level

2006;2006; Coordination established in several districts Coordination established in several districts

over next 4 months.over next 4 months.

11

ACTION: coordination & ACTION: coordination & mappingmapping

Protection strategy defined, district Protection strategy defined, district and national level action plans in and national level action plans in preparation.preparation.

Challenges: Challenges: Improving link between national and Improving link between national and

local levels;local levels; Improving understanding of the issues Improving understanding of the issues

even among stakeholders and activists;even among stakeholders and activists; Supporting national level government Supporting national level government

leadership.leadership.

12

ACTION: mapping and ACTION: mapping and assessmentsassessments

District-level intervention mapping/gap District-level intervention mapping/gap identification underway (UNIFEM, UNICEF, identification underway (UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO):UNFPA, WHO): More NGOs with More NGOs with technical skillstechnical skills needed to support needed to support

local authorities. local authorities.

Pooling of assessments and identification of Pooling of assessments and identification of further research/information needs (UNIFEM, further research/information needs (UNIFEM, UNOCHA);UNOCHA);

Monitoring and documentation:Monitoring and documentation: Human rights investigation and reporting Human rights investigation and reporting

UNOHCHR (supported by UNICEF within UNOHCHR (supported by UNICEF within framework of Security Council resolution 1612);framework of Security Council resolution 1612);

Case management systems (UNICEF, linked to Case management systems (UNICEF, linked to child protection response);child protection response);

Monitoring .Monitoring .

13

ACTION: Response to ACTION: Response to violenceviolence

Planned concentration on medical and Planned concentration on medical and psychosocial support services for time-being psychosocial support services for time-being (but not ignoring access to justice).(but not ignoring access to justice).

Training and supporting service providers:Training and supporting service providers: Medical service providers, HIV testing, including Medical service providers, HIV testing, including

community-based services (WHO, UNICEF, community-based services (WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, MSF, CCF, COOPI, ARC, MOH);UNFPA, MSF, CCF, COOPI, ARC, MOH);

Psychosocial support (UNICEF, ARC, COOPI, Psychosocial support (UNICEF, ARC, COOPI, CCF);CCF);

Police and army – response and prevention Police and army – response and prevention (UNOHCHR, UNICEF, Save the Children, ICRC);(UNOHCHR, UNICEF, Save the Children, ICRC);

Legal assistance (UNOHCHR, UNICEF, War Legal assistance (UNOHCHR, UNICEF, War Child, NRC).Child, NRC).

14

ACTION: Response to ACTION: Response to violenceviolence

PEP provision (UNFPA).PEP provision (UNFPA).

Safe spaces (CCF).Safe spaces (CCF).

ChallengesChallenges Creating meaningful referral systems Creating meaningful referral systems

where medical/legal provision limited.where medical/legal provision limited. Ensuring equitable district of Ensuring equitable district of

equipment and services. (eg only one equipment and services. (eg only one DNA machine in KLA)DNA machine in KLA)

15

ACTION: Prevention violence & ACTION: Prevention violence & exploitationexploitation

Community mobilization against sexual Community mobilization against sexual violence, domestic violence and sexual violence, domestic violence and sexual exploitation, including of and by men and exploitation, including of and by men and boys (UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNFPA, boys (UNIFEM, UNICEF, UNFPA, MGLSD, NGOs).MGLSD, NGOs).

Mainstreaming into humanitarian service Mainstreaming into humanitarian service delivery “protective programming”:delivery “protective programming”: Disseminating IASC Guidelines and SPHERE Disseminating IASC Guidelines and SPHERE

standards (UNICEF, UNIFEM);standards (UNICEF, UNIFEM); Training of education, water, shelter Training of education, water, shelter

colleagues (UNICEF, UNHCR);colleagues (UNICEF, UNHCR); Strengthening camp management/site Strengthening camp management/site

planning (UNHCR).planning (UNHCR).

16

ACTION: Prevention violence & ACTION: Prevention violence & exploitationexploitation

Livelihoods:Livelihoods: Advocacy for land access/freedom of Advocacy for land access/freedom of

safe movement (UN Country team as a safe movement (UN Country team as a whole);whole);

Basic skills training/livelihoods Basic skills training/livelihoods programming for encamped families – programming for encamped families – making sure access for vulnerable girls making sure access for vulnerable girls and women (many UN agencies and and women (many UN agencies and NGOs). NGOs).

17

ACTION: keeping our own ACTION: keeping our own house in orderhouse in order

Code of Conduct:Code of Conduct: Training staff (all UN agencies);Training staff (all UN agencies); Establishing accessible, confidential inter-Establishing accessible, confidential inter-

agency procedures for complaints (UNICEF to agency procedures for complaints (UNICEF to lead creation, on behalf of protection cluster).lead creation, on behalf of protection cluster).

18

ACTION: resource ACTION: resource mobilizationmobilization

Move towards joint funding/joint programming Move towards joint funding/joint programming approach (by time of 2007 CAP);approach (by time of 2007 CAP);

Technically competent staff a critical and key Technically competent staff a critical and key issue – need for more and stronger NGO issue – need for more and stronger NGO partners;partners;

Donors must recognize that staff (especially Donors must recognize that staff (especially staff in the field) are a key component of staff in the field) are a key component of GBV/protection programming – proportion of GBV/protection programming – proportion of staff cost vs direct service delivery costs staff cost vs direct service delivery costs higher than in higher than in

19

CHALLENGESCHALLENGES Linking the sexual exploitation and sexual/domestic Linking the sexual exploitation and sexual/domestic

violence conflict agenda with a broader national violence conflict agenda with a broader national strategy on these issues.strategy on these issues.

Ensuring collective ownership and broad understanding Ensuring collective ownership and broad understanding of responsibilities for prevention.of responsibilities for prevention.

Too few NGOs on the ground.Too few NGOs on the ground.

Limited local authority SGBV service provision in Limited local authority SGBV service provision in camps;camps;

Very weak economic base for the men, women and Very weak economic base for the men, women and children living in the IDP camps which escalates level of children living in the IDP camps which escalates level of SGBV.. SGBV..

Poor integration of services and weak referral systems.Poor integration of services and weak referral systems.

20

Summary of key next stepsSummary of key next steps At the stage of beginning an exciting At the stage of beginning an exciting

and comprehensive inter-agency and comprehensive inter-agency response:response: Much of what described being undertaken Much of what described being undertaken

individually but now working towards more individually but now working towards more comprehensive, coordinated approach at comprehensive, coordinated approach at scale.scale.

Stronger coordination and leadership – Stronger coordination and leadership – new staff coming into post within UN new staff coming into post within UN system, better linkage across sectors.system, better linkage across sectors.

District by district action plans based on District by district action plans based on mapping.mapping.

21

Summary of key next stepsSummary of key next steps Harmonizing training modules – Harmonizing training modules –

creating standard packages.creating standard packages.

Standardizing/developing monitoring Standardizing/developing monitoring and evaluation framework and and evaluation framework and ensuring regular reporting on progress ensuring regular reporting on progress within UN-IASC Protection Cluster.within UN-IASC Protection Cluster.

Enforceable codes of conduct to Enforceable codes of conduct to prevent sexual exploitation among prevent sexual exploitation among service providers, in military and service providers, in military and among humanitarian agencies.among humanitarian agencies.

22

Thank youThank you