Breaking barriers in Eastern Uganda: PWRDF and RHF team-up again

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was ratified in Uganda nearly 30 years ago. Despite that, women still do not enjoy the same opportunities as men. PWRDF began a partnership with Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF) in 2020. Now in 2023, PWRDF and RHF have come together again in a project to empower women and youth in Eastern Uganda and create stronger futures for themselves.

The project began in March 2023 and will run for one year. It will provide income-generating opportunities for women and reduce rates of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) against women and youth, which is a major barrier to their full participation in all aspects of society.

With $22, 400 from PWRDF, RHF aims to engage approximately 9,000 women and 5,500 youth, mostly survivors of SGBV and female genital mutilation (FGM), as well as some caretakers and men. Participants will learn about human rights, how to access legal aid, SGBV, FGM, human trafficking and modern-day slavery, including who the perpetrators are, how to avoid falling victim and what participants can do to reduce these problems which continue to hold women back in Uganda, both financially and socially. Project activities also include:

• awareness-raising activities within communities and for law enforcement
• updating human rights sensitization manuals
• providing women with economic opportunities by linking their handmade goods and crafts to international markets.

In February 2023, PWRDF Program Manager Richard Librock visited the Jinga area of Uganda to observe program activities.

“The project gives hope to vulnerable women who otherwise would not have the means to re-build their lives,” he said.

RHF has been working in Uganda for 15 years with a mission to empower women in their own socio-economic development process, through strengthening Human Rights awareness, health care, community participation and advocacy.