Violence against Women is seen to perpetuate an increased risk for HIV infection in Uganda. Activists are now saying as they commence 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence.
The International Campaign which was started in 1991 by Rutgers University (USA), Global Centre for Women Leadership has since been marked annually from 25th of November to the 10th of December.
But in Uganda, it comes at a time when the 2011 Demographic Health Survey (UDHS) indicates that 59% of women in the country experience violence, 16% of pregnant women face violence, while 28 % have experienced sexual violence.
The status has not changed much in the past year, Tina Musuya Executive Director of Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention (CEDOVIP) says.
She illustrates that for instance, the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report of 2011 records over 463 cases of rape, 7542 cases of defilement and 9343 cases of Domestic Violence were reported.
Musuya explains that violence against women is directly linked to prevalence in HIV/Aids, because often at times women are not able to negotiate for safer sex due to their lower status, economic dependency and fear of violence from their male intimate partners.
//Cue in: Safe sex can…”
Cue Out…be addressed together”.//
Musuya pointed out that the situation is alarming considering that in 2010, Uganda passed a Domestic Violence Act, yet this form of violence continues to happen with impunity.
But Jeane Kemitare a Senior Program Officer with Raising Voices- an organisation that works towards prevention of violence argues that there are many underlying causes of violence which should be addressed.
//Cue in: Women have less…”
Cue Out: against their partners…”//
Activities aimed at preventing violence and explaining how it is linked to an increase in HIV are being carried out in Rubaga, Nakinde Salaama and Kisubi divisons. In addition, similar activities are ongoing in Bugiri, Busoga and other districts to mark the 16 days.
Uganda: Choice not Chance
Family planning in Uganda
Ugandan girls testify about being trafficked to Iraq for sex slavery by Ugandan Veterans Development Ltd.
5 Ugandan girls who were rescued from sex slavery in Iraq testify to parliament about their experience.
This is a great article that shows how young girls and women are being tricked into sex trafficking.
While this piece is about Uganda, this type of sinister activity is happening all over the world and probably right in your back yard. We are committed to raising awareness about this epidemic with our Hands Off This Girl web series. Be aware and stay vigilant against sex trafficking!
How Ugandans Are Being Duped Into Sex Slavery
Having spent three years without a job, the offer was too juicy for her to refuse. She was promised a lucrative part time job in a four-star hotel, an opportunity to study in college to upgrade her qualifications and be paid $1,000, (sh2,500,000) every month.
When she insisted that she had no money to pay for the passport, visa and air ticket, she was assured everything would be covered for her.
Excited, Mastula Nalubowa alias Mercy Nalubowa ran to her sister she had come to visit in Kibuli and told her the exciting news.
“She was jobless, so the allure of that kind of money was too much. Since we were not going to incur any costs for her travel, we gave her a go ahead,” her sister told Sunday Vision.
Nalubowa gave the stranger her contacts, plus a passport photo. After three weeks, she was called to pick her passport and travel documents.
She was taken to a shrine, undressed and certain rituals were performed on her. She was then given some papers to sign where she was required to repay the syndicate the travel expenses and all the money they had incurred on her. In total the figure was $8000 (sh20,000,000).
The nightmares in China
Unknown to her, her dreams would soon turn into a nightmare once she had boarded the plane. She was first taken to China to an apartment where she met 15 other girls from Uganda.The syndicate immediately took her passport, ushered into a small room with a bed and told to start working. On learning that she had been duped into sex slavery, she hesitated. Three men came in, beat her up, raped and threatened to kill her. A big bulky African man was then ushered into her room and he forcefully had sex with her. Then came another and another. By the end of the first day she had slept with 15 men.
Read about Mastula’s escape and how Uganda is trying to combat sex trafficking in New Vision, Uganda’s leading daily English newspaper.
