UWONET Vision and Mission

UWONET envisions a Uganda free from all forms of gender based discrimination; and upholding human rights and the principles of gender equity and equality, hence fostering equal opportunities and effective participation at all levels, recognising women contributions.

UWONET’s mission is to promote and enhance networking, collective visioning and action among membership and with different actors working towards development and the transformation of unequal gender relations in the Ugandan society.

Background

Civil  society  organizations are the key  ways  through which the  citizens  or  communities  can  hold  their  governments accountable. In order  to  achieve  good  governance and enhance women’s role  in  accountability  processes, participation  of civil  society in governance at all levels sub county, district and national needs  to  be  stepped up. However the  civil  society capacities at  the  grassroots  remains a  slow  and  inactive driver for  social  accountability  processes. To achieve  gender  equality and  equal  participation and representation  of  women in  leadership  and  decision  making, Civil  Society  Organizations (CSOs) capacities  need to be  strengthened.

As part  of  its  strategic  objective  four, UWONET aims to  work with  grassroots  women organizations and civil  society  at  large. It also aims at building strategic   partnerships to provide and foster women’s roles in governance.

 Overview of  the  Project

This programme implemented with support from the European Union (EU) seeks to enhance women’s oversight capacity to participate in socio economic and political processes in the regions of Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja;

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. Enhance capacity of women and young people to participate in good governance and social accountability processes.
2. To facilitate Civil Society Organisations (CSO) capacity development to participate in Local Government (LG) planning, monitoring and advocacy for effective social service delivery.
3. To provide relevant information for effective civic engagement between duty bearers (CSOs, LGs) and right holders

Assignment

A capacity needs assessment of Civil Society organizations is one of the activities under the project that is aimed at analyzing the capacities of CSOs in the different districts of operation to asertain their strengths and weaknesses. UWONET as a Network focuses on information generation which is informed by having accurate information about the gaps that exist and how the project will impact on women.

Objectives of the capacity needs assignment

1. Examine  the  strengths  and  weaknesses of  the  CSOs in  regards  to  capacity  and  operation.
2. Identify  the  capacity gaps  that  need  to  be  strengthened  in  the  skills  development  training.
3. Identify Information gaps in regards to participation and implementation of Social Accountability processes.

 Methodology

The  assignment  will  include  interviews with  different  civil  society  organisations and  key  respondents as well as  focus  group  discussions  with  the  community and making a comprehensive report.

Secretariat Support

UWONET officials  will  provide  reports  and  any  other  necessary  information  .

Scope

Under the guidance of the Director of Programmes and the Programme officer the consultant will

• Propose a draft outline of the content of the Capacity needs assessment.
• Carry  out  the  interviews in the  six districts  of Yumbe, Kotido, Abim, Agago, Lamwo and Kaboong
• Develop a draft and final version of the capacity needs assessment report acceptable to UWONET standard.
• Update the report if needed.

Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to produce:

• An inception report covering her interpretation of the ToRs, statement of methodology, work plan and  tools.
• Draft assessment for validation
• Final report

Time Frame

The assignment is expected to last for 15 working days from the 25th of May to the 15thof June 2012. UWONET will review the progress of the needs assessment and expect the final draft on the 20^th June 2012. During this period the consultant will carry out tasks related to the assignments and a meeting will be organized discuss the draft report with the secretariat before submitting the final report.

Competencies and Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor degree  in  Social  work  or related   discipline
• Advanced  degree

Experience

• Proven and substantial experience research and Advocacy.
• At least ten years experience in the field of Gender and development.
• At  least ten years  experience in  conducting needs assessment ( evidence required)

Language

Excellence in English written and Oral.

Deadline of submission of application is 22nd May 2012. 

Women’s participation in governance at all levels sub county, district and national, continues to be limited, yet it remains a top priority and a critical element for achieving gender equality.  Only when women have full access to decision-making positions will laws, policies, and budgets reflect the needs of all citizens and support women’s rights.  Nevertheless this  is  infringed  by  the  leaders  inability  to  understand their  roles  and  responsibilities  and  translate this  to  their  daily  work. To  achieve  the  Millennium Development  goals it  is  agreed  and  pertinent  that we  step  up  and promote increased women’s representation in decision  making.

In pursuing its goal to attain increased  women’s participation  in  leadership  and  decision  making as stipulated  in  its  current strategic plan , Uganda Women’s Network has drawn  together and has been working with grassroots  women  organizations  to enhance  their capacities  for  effective  engagement  and  influence  of  government  processes. It also aims at building strategic   partnerships provide and foster women’s roles in governance. Therefore it  is  pertinent  that  women  leaders  are  provided  with  the  necessary  information  for  effective  performance.

This programme implemented with support from the European Union (EU) seeks to enhance women’s oversight capacity to participate in socio economic and political processes in the regions of Acholi, West Nile and Karamoja;

1.0    UWONET Vision and Mission

UWONET envisions a peaceful Uganda free of wars, gender violence and all forms of discrimination; and upholding human rights and the principles of gender equity and equality, hence fostering equal opportunities and effective participation at all levels, recognising women contributions.

UWONET’s mission is to promote and enhance networking, collective visioning and action among membership and with different actors working towards development and the transformation of unequal gender relations in the Ugandan society.

1.2       PROJECT OBJECTIVES

1. Enhance capacity of women and young people to participate in good governance and social accountability processes.
2. To facilitate Civil Society Organisations (CSO) capacity development to participate in Local Government (LG) planning, monitoring and advocacy for effective social service delivery. 
3. To provide relevant information for effective civic engagement between duty bearers (CSOs, LGs) and right holders

1.3     Assignment

Developing  a resource  pack for  duty  bearers is one of the activities under the project that is aimed at developing a  reference  pack for  all duty bearers  such as  the  police, district officials  and  others  depending  on  their  office. The  resource  pack will involve the  summary  of  the  documents  that  stipulate  the  roles  of  duty bearers  such as the Constitution, Local Government Act, Parliamentary Act and Regulations, Police Act.

1.4     Objectives of the Resource pack

1. Provide  information  on  the  roles  and  responsibilities  of the  different duty  bearers
2.  To make the information in different easy to understand for all.

 1.5    Methodology

The assignment will include review of Constitution and the Local Government Act, Parliamentary Act and Regulations.

1.6     Secretariat Support

UWONET officials  will  provide  documents for  review and  any  other  necessary  information  required  by  the  consultant.

2.0     Scope

Under the guidance of the Director of Programmes and the Programme officer the consultant will

• Propose a draft outline of the content of the resource pack.
• Develop a draft and final version resource pack acceptable to UWONET standard.
• Update the resource pack if needed.

2.1       Deliverables

The Consultant is expected to produce:

• An inception covering her interpretation of the ToRs, statement of methodology and work plan)
• Draft resource pack for validation
• Final report

2.2       Time Frame

The assignment is expected to last for 15 working days from 25th May 2012 to 15th June 2012. UWONET will review the progress of the needs assessment and expect the final draft on the 20th June 2012. During this period the consultant will carry out tasks related to the assignments and a meeting will be organized discuss the draft report with the secretariat before submitting the final report.

3.0       Competencies and Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor degree  in  Law  or related   discipline
• Advanced  degree

Experience

• Proven and substantial experience research and Advocacy.
• At least ten years experience in the field of Gender and development.
• At  least ten years  experience in  conducting needs assessment ( evidence required)

Language

Excellence in English written and Oral.

Deadline of  submission of Applications is 22nd May 2012. 

The Institute of Social Transformation (IST) on 16th March 2012, launched the first book in a series of monographs entitled “Women Who Will Not Wait” which seeks to give visibility to the knowledge of rural women. The monograph is a case study of the leadership practices of rural women in Mali. The report is part of a wider study on Women’s Leadership and experience at the community level in four countries: Bostwana, Mali, Liberia and Uganda. The aim is to contribute to a rural African voice and perspective to the dialogue on women’s ways of knowing. The main objective of the project was to discover what meaning 10 rural women leaders in a district per country attach to the concept of empowerment and leadership, how they learn to be empowering leaders and how they are helping other women to be empowered.

The site of the study was the Segou region of Mali, where rural women have demonstrated resilience through their solidarity and leadership initiatives. The findings reveal that the women have not only contributed to community development but have also amplified their voices and visibility through their participation in local politics and also actively participated in the empowerment of their peers. The study makes several recommendations, some of the key ones are: a call for the education and training of women engaged in rural development, encouraging solidarity and linkages among women’s groups; funding of women’s initiatives as well as enhanced access to credit; and implementing and enforcing policies on women’s empowerment.

About the author

Ms. Oury Traore from Mali is an international consultant on peace and security. She has published several articles and a compendium on African issues and women’s human rights.

Institute for Social Transformation

The Institute for Social Transformation (IST) is an initiative of a group of African women who are committed to a more just and inclusive approach to development in the Eastern part of Africa. IST is the East African home for Training for Transformation. It is based in Uganda and works in seven East African countries; namely Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It promotes the philosophy and practice of Paulo Freire. The institute aims at building a new level of women’s leadership in the six countries of English speaking Eastern Africa; building the skills, insights and abilities of teams from NGO and community organizations to empower local self-reliant transformation and link their efforts to national and global civil society movements; and building confidence and skills of local groups to work with and challenge their governments to ensure macro and micro-economic policies that are to the advantage of the marginalized.

For a copy of the book please contact / visit the Institute for Social Transformation, Plot 390 Sebowa Zone, Kiwatule;  P.O.Box 24620, Kampala, Uganda
Or call Phone: +256 41 4665496; Mob: +256 77 2622560; or Email: info@ist-tft.org

UWONET would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you the selected young professionals for this year 2012;

Anja Katrine Søndergaard is a 19 year old, 2011 high school graduate from Roskilde, Denmark.  She majored in media and social studies. Anja has been doing plenty of associational work in her spear time – in political organizations, development organizations and different youth councils. She has been a local leader of the Youth organization of the Democratic Socialist People’s Party and an elections campaign-leader for the current Minister of Health in Denmark. She has also been active in local youth councils and in politics since the age of 15. Anja has been a part of a team developing a new youth policy in her city of Roskilde, which has the goal to involve young people in decision making and invite youths to participate more in the democracy. Among other things, she has been campaigning for a lower voting age and a more including educational system. She knows how to do campaigning and is good at starting up activities, dialogue and debating.

Asiimwe Charlotte is a 23 year old Bachelor’s Degree in Community Psychology graduate from Makerere University. Throughout her school life, Charlotte was groomed to always stand out and not to be just a face in the crowd. She was outstanding performer and also a leader (class representative) at the university. Charlotte is a trained HIV/AIDS Prevention counsellor from Aids Information Center and also practiced counselling during her internship at Infectious Disease Institute in Mulago as an adherence counsellor.  Aside from having counselling skills she loves to read articles on health, contemporary issues, attending conferences on life skills, empowering people and is also interested in music, dance and drama. Honesty and integrity are her behavioural competencies. Charlotte has learnt to make good use of the opportunities that bring out the best in her.

Kikawa Allan is a 26 year old Bachelor’s degree in Library and Information Science graduate from Makerere University and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Science in Information Systems at the same University. Allan is a self starter, flexible, creative, innovative, and organized, can multitask and is a team player with strong analytical and presentation skills. He strives for not only having work completed before strict deadlines but also with great accuracy. Allan has great skills in research, data entry, project and organizational change management, entrepreneurship and agricultural information systems.

Christine Koli is a 22 year old Bachelors of Development Studies graduate from Uganda Christian University. Christine is a self-reliant, determined and analytical person with a reliable personality and excellent communication skills. She mixes both assertiveness and humility; and is able to work in and with teams. She is so passionate about Human rights narrowing it down to women’s rights. She is the kind of person you need for any development to occur.

Anyagurat Miria is a 26 year old Bachelors Degree in Social Work and Social Administration graduate from Kumi University with experience in development work particularly in area of women’s rights with special focus on gender based violence and children’s rights. Miria has also trained on Gender Based Violence prevention and response, reproductive Health and Rights and gender responsive implementation of PRDP. Miria has good interpersonal skills, is flexible, good team player and can work with minimal supervision.

Many thanks to all the young ladies and gentlemen who applied for the 2012 placement but the secretariat could only take so many. We do encourage other young professionals to apply during the next intake and seize every opportunity around you.

Introduction

These Terms of Reference are for the conducting a feasibility experiential learning to establish a description of an appropriate model for GBV shelters/ crisis centres as response mechanism to GBV within Busoga region with a view of using lessons learnt to advocate for the provision of better services on GBV.

Background

Gender-based violence is a major problem faced by women and yet getting out of an abusive or violent relationship is not easy. In Uganda, more than two thirds of ever married women (68%) have experienced any kind of gender based violence^[1] (Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 2006). The problem is worse for the rural women (61%) than urban women (54%). In response to the alarming incidences of gender based violence, the Government of Uganda (GoU) through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) in partnership with Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) and Centre for Domestic Violence and Prevention (CEDOVIP) and 8 local governments are implementing a Joint Programme to address Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the Busoga Sub-region focusing on 8 districts namely Bugiri, Buyende Jinja, Iganga, Kaliro, Kamuli, Mayuge, and Namutumba. The programme was launched in November 2010 and has effectively been implemented for 6 months. The focus on Busoga region was based on the fact that the region registered the highest incidence of sexual violence in the country as established by UBOS, (2006) in the Uganda Demographic Health Survey 2006.  Arising from the gaps identified during implementation of year one, the GBV Joint programme partners noted the urgent need for a mechanism for assisting victims of GBV access immediate safe spaces that provide prevention intervention, emotional support, and treatment services to physically, emotionally and sexually abused women and girls. Through a needs assessment conducted by the GBV Joint Programme partners, an immediate comprehensive response mechanism is one way of redressing the apparent gap as they offer both healing and justice for survivors of violence.

Overview of UWONET

UWONET is an advocacy and lobbying Network currently comprised of 16 national women’s organisations and 10 individual members who collectively work together to amplify the women’s voice and enhance women’s empowerment.

Management and Monitoring and Evaluation arrangements

UWONET will take lead in organizing and coordinating the project. UWONET will implement under the overall supervision of the GBV Joint Programme Management Team headed by the Commissioner Gender in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development; Members of the management team (Executive officers of CEDOVIP and UWONET). The GBV Joint Programme Management Committee will oversee the monitoring of the process.

Outputs from the Management team.

-          Narrative and Financial progress reports provided by UWONET

-          Activity milestones developed.

The  main purpose of this assignment is to;

1. Establish a description of an appropriate model for shelters/crisis centres as response mechanism to GBV within Busoga region of Uganda.

The study will be conducted over a period of three months employing mainly qualitative methods of data collection. A Participatory methodology involving GBV JP and GBV Reference Group will be employed. Consultative and lesson learning meetings with sample agencies involved in the provision of GBV shelters/ crisis centres will also be held. In addition, a review secondary data will be undertaken including review of policy, legal and programme documents as well as experiential learning visits to a few selected countries that have run successfully shelters/crisis centres as response mechanisms to GBV.

Objectives

• To assess the accessibility, availability, acceptability and sustainability of shelters/crisis centres as response mechanism to GBV at national and regional levels.

• To use the information generated to inform national policy programming and utilize findings to recommend an appropriate form of shelter or crisis centre to be adopted by the GBV JP partners in Busoga region.

The resource person will work closely with UWONET secretariat and GOU-IRISH AID JP partners to ensure quality and timeliness on the process.

Scope of work

• Consensus building on concepts, Inception phase Preparatory activities:

These will include production of the work plan report, and setting up the resource team, development of the study instruments, and pre-testing of the study tools.

• Data collection:

UWONET who will be responsible for the data collection will work closely with the resource person to generate primary and secondary data collection, compilation and analysis of secondary data, interviews with key informants   and focus group\ discussions.

• Lesson learning and consultative meetings with Service Providers:-

The JP partners under the leadership of the resource person will undertake learning meetings in two countries; (Uganda and South Africa).  It is important that a comparison with similar countries in the region is made and so one country that is known to be running shelters will be selected for this purpose;

While in Uganda, visits will be made to;

• MIFUMI GBV support centre- Tororo district
• Action Aid women Centre – Nebbi and Mubende
• Catholic Women Guild – Nsambya Kampala
• Hope after Rape –

While in South Africa, the team will visit two towns; i.e Cape town and Johannesburg. Three sites will be visited run by NGO’s and Government. The visits will be made to;

• Cape Town, People Opposing Women Abuse and NISAA
•   Khaya Lethemba

Deliverables

The resource person will develop;

1. An inception report outlining tasks to be undertaken, schedule of activities and methodology to be adopted as well as proposed budget.
2. A presentation of the major findings to the GBV Reference Group, GBV JP Representatives and other GBV partners through consultative dialogue and consensus building meetings in Busoga and at national level.
3. Guidelines for the Government of Uganda on an appropriate model for GBV shelters/ crisis centres as response mechanism to GBV.
4. Recommendations to facilitate evidence based programming and establishment of Busoga region GBV Shelter to supported GBV JP Partners.
5. Policy briefs for GBV Joint Programme Partners targeting Government of Uganda and other GBV national stakeholders for advocacy purposes.
6. A final experimental learning report  in both hard and soft copies submitted to the Coordinator of the GBV JP

Reporting

The resource person will during the course of this assignment report to the Executive Director UWONET and the GBV Joint partners aware of the management and monitoring and evaluation arrangements.

Time Frame

The study will be conducted over a period of three months employing mainly qualitative methods of data collection. A Participatory methodology involving GBV JP and GBV Reference Group will be employed. Consultative and lesson learning meetings with sample agencies involved in the provision of GBV shelters/ crisis centres will also be held.

Mode of payment

The consultant will be paid 60% of the agreed upon sum as stipulated on signing of the contract and 40% on completion of the assignment.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Prepare payments of office and other bills as per laid down procedures of the organization.
2. Verify all invoices and requisitions and ensure that adequate supporting documents are in place before any payment is made.
3. Make payments as per requisitions
4. File all payments, accountabilities, and ensure that all paid documents are stamped.
5. Keep an updated stores Ledger.
6. Prepare monthly vehicle reports and monthly management reports.
7. Maintain an up to date assets register with all acquisitions and disposals
8. Any other duty as may be assigned by the Finance and Administration Manager from time to time.

Required Qualification and Experience

Applicants must have a minimum of a Degree in Business Administration majoring in Accounts.  Must be computer literate and conversant with MS Word, MS Excel and Accounting Packages, especially Pastel with a minimum of (3) years experience working with a busy Non Governmental Organization (NGOs)

Interested candidates should send their handwritten application and CV including three references with contact details and copies of academic and professional testimonials to:

The Executive Director,
Plot 198, Old Kira Road Ntinda
P. O. Box 27991,
KAMPALA

Please submit your handwritten application and CV including three references by close of business 2nd March 2012.

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Support and assist in day to day running of programmes
2. Daily indexing of SGBV cases in the printing media
3. Attending meetings and conferences on behalf of the organisation
4. Proposal and concept note development
5.  Writing and analysis of field and project reports.
6. Support the management of the UWONET Resource center

Experience, skills & competencies

No experience is required for this position.

Educational requirements

• Candidates must at least a Bachelors Degree  from a recognised university
• Must be able to communicate fluently in spoken and written English.
• Demonstrate interest in the advancement of women in any sphere of development.
• Must ably demonstrate how they will apply their skills to the advancement of women’s rights.
•  Should have some workable knowledge of IT.
• Be willing to  work as a team

Interested individuals should send their applications, including their curriculum vitae and copies of academic documents to:

The Executive Director

Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET)

Plot 198 Old Kira Road Ntinda

P.O.Box 2799, Kampala Uganda

Or on email to info@uwonet.or.ug

Applications should be sent by close of business on 16^th February 2012

N:B Both male and Female  candidates are encouraged to apply

Its establishment was based on the recognition that political instability and conflicts in these countries have a considerable regional dimension and thus require a concerted effort in order to promote sustainable peace and development. Most notable among the conflicts that have had cross-border impacts or origins are the 1994 Rwandan genocide that led to the loss of more than 800,000 lives, and the political instability in DRC. These conflicts constituted a major threat to international peace and security.

Its responsibility is to coordinate, facilitate, monitor and thereby ensure the implementation of the Pact in order to attain peace, security, political stability and development in the Great Lakes Region. The main divisions of ICGLR are: Peace and Security, Democracy and Good Governance, Economic Development and Regional Integration and Humanitarian and Social Issues. In addition, the Conference addresses Cross-cutting Issues such as Gender, Environment, Human Rights, HIV/AIDS and Human Settlements.

In December 2010, at the request of the ICGLR Regional Women’s Forum, Heads of State agreed to dedicate a special session on the problem of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) in their next convened summit. Preparations are under way for this summit scheduled to take place in Kampala, Uganda from 11th to 16th December 2011. One day of the Summit will be specifically devoted to a Special Session on SGBV under the theme: “United to Prevent, End Impunity and Provide Support to the Victims of SGBV in the Great Lakes Region.”

In preparation for the Special Session, national, regional and international human rights organizations based in Kenya and Uganda have spearheaded a regional process to mobilize civil society organizations in the Great Lakes region to participate in deliberations leading up to the Summit.  The CSO Coordination Committee for the ICGLR Special Session on SGBV constitutes: ACORD, ActionAid, Action for Development (ACFODE), African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), Akina Mama Wa Afrika (AMWA), CARE, CCPAU, East African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI), International Refugee Rights Initiative (IRRI), Isis-Women’s International Cross-Cultural Exchange (Isis-WICCE), National Association of Women’s Organisations in Uganda (NAWOU), Regional Associates for Community Initiatives (RACI), and Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET).

The CSO Engagement is aimed at promoting clear and consistent messaging on SGBV experiences and demands to Heads of State for immediate commitment and tangible action, empowering local and national women’s rights groups in the region to speak for themselves and ensure their voices are heard at high level decision making platforms and ensuring Regional decision making structures take  into consideration the human rights of women and children in their agreements which reinforce national commitments to women’s and children’s rights, in line with international and regional treaties and agreements.

The ICGLR therefore is a good opportunity for our leaders to provide a lasting solution to the problem of SGBV. Consequently, as Women Civil Society in the Region, we strongly urge the Heads of State of ICGLR to be at the front line of the fight against Sexual Gender Based Violence, and to:

1. Declare Zero Tolerance Now on SGBV crimes and impunity
2. Allocate specific and adequate funding for SGBV prevention programmes within a Gender Responsive Budgeting Framework
3. Institutionalize early warning and response to SGBV, in collaboration with the security community policing in the prevention service sector
4. Establish an independent Regional Impunity Monitoring Unit by the next Summit of the Heads of State, to thereafter report on progress annually to the ICGLR Ordinary Summit of Heads of State
5. Establish national Reparation Funds for survivors of SGBV by the next ICGLR Ordinary Summit of Heads of State.
6. Adopt a comprehensive SGBV performance framework (in the form of an Index or Barometer) with clear standards and targets, with opportunity for civil society to present shadow or parallel reports.

For more information please follow these links;

http://eacsof.net/upload/Concept%20Note%20for%20CSO%20participation%20in%20ICGLR%20Special%20Session%20on%20SGBV%20-%202011.pdf

https://icglr.org/spip.php?article170

Against this background the National Union of Disabled Persons of Uganda (NUDIPU) an indigenous umbrella Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) of PWDs organized a meeting at Hotel Africana with the aim of influencing policy makers to address maternal health needs of WWDs. NUDIPU is advocating for Maternal New born Child Health (MNCH) and HIV integration into programmes and projects with the goal of reducing HIV related mortality and improvement of health outcomes for HIV positive mothers with disabilities at district and national level. MNCH programmes focus on improving the quality and availability of all maternal, newborn and child health services such as; antenatal and postnatal care, safer deliveries, care for newborn and young children, improved nutrition, routine immunization and effective Primary Health Care.

To a great extent, WWDs have been denied information and services about MNCH, sexual reproductive health and HIV/AIDS because most of the time the attitude of the health workers is negative towards them and they do not attend to them. Furthermore they have often been denied the right to establish meaningful sexual relationships and to decide whether, when and with whom to have a family. Many have been subjected to abandonment, forced abortions or forced marriages. WWDs are more likely to experience physical, emotional and sexual abuse and other forms for gender based violence. They are also more likely to become infected with HIV and other STIs.

WWDs suffer injustices and discrimination for instance the modes of transport don’t favor them, wheelchair users are almost completely excluded from most public transport.  Also the design of buses and taxis present major obstacles to their use by WWDs such as; lack of sufficient grab rails at entrances and narrow aisles and seat spacing, hindering maneuvering inside vehicles. Cost issues appear to be one of the most important barriers to greater mobility, both in terms of accessing and maintaining mobility devices, and in terms of affording to travel by public transport. WWDs also find difficulty accessing the health centre facilities since they cannot climb stairs with wheelchairs, therefore, they are limited in accessing maternal care.

Medical practitioners sometimes treat WWDs as objects of treatment rather than rights holders and do not always seek their free and informal consent when it comes to treatment. Poor hygiene in public places for example in hospital has left women especially WWDs susceptible to several infections which end up affecting their health more. Lack of education is yet another root cause that has continued to compound the issue of maternal and child mortality.

The government of Uganda is urged to address maternal health challenges affecting WWDs through; providing access to health care on an equal basis and putting into consideration WWDs through equipping labor wards with adjustable beds, sign language interpreters in health centers at all levels and maintain proper sanitation. The government is also urged to provide health services and centers as close as possible to communities, including rural areas and provide motivated medical personnel in those centers. Also health caravans that can take services close to the community where WWDs are living should be put up.

WWDs need to be informed and have access to safe, effective, affordable and acceptable methods of family planning of their choice and the right of access to appropriate health care services that will enable them to go safely through pregnancy and childbirth.

In conclusion, the main rights holders in Uganda for maternal health and child health are the women, girls and the children, with poor women including WWDs being the most affected by poor maternal health care. The rights holders are lacking empowerment to claim their right to quality maternal health services. They also lack knowledge on good maternal health practices and on their rights to be protected from harmful practices. There is concrete need for laying the foundation for disability needs and access to quality MNCH, sexual reproductive health and HIV prevention services.

Source; Presentations:

“Overview of MNCH, SRH, HIV/AIDS needs of PWDs” Penninah Mugume

“Maternal Health as a Human Rights issue in relation to WWDs” Nakibuuka Noor Musisi

1. Poverty and inequality
2. Women and girls
3. Young people
4. Reproductive health and rights
5. Environment
6. Babies and the aging
7. Urbanization

Raising awareness about the population mark and what it means to live in a world with so many people is a way of highlighting the challenges, opportunities and actions that will shape the world’s future.  As more and more people join those of us already here, new challenges will arise, however, as individuals we play a key role in creating a sustainable world characterized by balance and peace for all. Reducing inequalities and finding ways to ensure well-being of people alive today will require new ways of thinking and unprecedented global cooperation.

Women and girls: Empowerment and progress

Uganda Women’s Network (UWONET) is an advocacy and lobbying network of national women’s NGO’s and individuals, operating in Uganda. It envisions ‘A Ugandan society free of all forms of gender based discrimination’. UWONET believes that the existing gender inequality and poverty impacts more on women.

Millions of girls and women could help us build a healthier future if we let them. It is a tragedy that women are not full partners now in the Ugandan economy. This lack of economic empowerment means women are less likely to have access to basic health care, financial capital, land and business ownership and education.

The economic cost of neglecting women taxes all of us. In Uganda, 16 women die unnecessarily every day from pregnancy and child birth. Satisfying the unmet need for family planning and maternal care would slow population growth and reduce strain on scarce natural and financial resources. Healthy mothers are also better able to contribute to their children’s health and education and to household resources.

With a renewed pledge by UN member states to promote gender equality as part of the MDGs, stressing that investing in women and girls has a multiplier effect on productivity, efficiency and sustained economic growth. The why of investing in women is self-evident; we need the HOW. We are all in this together and are counting on each other. Working together, incremental actions will create exponential results.

Please share your ideas, stories, projects so we can create a stronger world for all our children. Please email to info@uwonet.or.ug / uwonet1@gmail.com / 33millionactions@unfpa.or.ug or post on www.7billionactions.org