Our Rights, Our Responsibility –UHRC says

Our Rights, Our Responsibility –UHRC says

As their mandate to promote and protect the human rights constituted in articles 52(1) (i) and 58 of the Constitution of Uganda, the Uganda Human Rights Commission they do investigations on human rights violation done by state actors and also give referrals to complainants/ victims.

Doing sensitization to create awareness in public is their critical part in promoting and protecting human rights which needs combined effort from all stakeholders such as civil society organizations, team of human rights defenders like the Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda, National Coalition of Human Rights, leaders among others.

The head of the UHRC Fort Portal Regional office, Ms. Kajobe Harriet, says “Human rights are not just the responsibility of the government; they are ours to uphold. Each of us plays a role in ensuring that our community thrives in justice and respect.”
“Starting from home, a father and a mother have to do their responsibility of providing basic needs for the children, ensuring a safe environment then to the community level, sub county, district up to the national level.”

“As UHRC we have started debating clubs in schools
so as to empower the young generation and grew up knowing their rights”

As one way of collaboration, the Women Human rights Defenders from Rwenzori region visited the region offices of UHRC Fort portal tourism city, as they shared their challenges they go through and seek for support from the commission.

Faith Kwebaze the regional coordinator for women human rights defenders in Rwenzori region says that as women human rights defenders in the region they need protection from the government as they are attacked, threatened, harassed due to the work they do.

“We deal in land rights, conflict resolution, organizing peace mediation meetings and this work put our lives in danger become a target of attack from the people benefiting from peace mediations, preventing child labor in tea plantations and salt mining in Kasese district have also created threats and intimidation from community, leaders, businessmen, security agencies and individuals,” Kwebaze revealed

Experience sharing
Kahunde Rose a woman defender says “ I was attacked when I tried to intervene at police station as security personnel were torturing, beating female sex workers as they were arrested from their hot spots.”

Kyobutungi Maureen, “ discrimination of key population from accessing health services greatly contributed to spread of HIV/AIDS in the city as sex workers, I came out to raise their voices and I became a target in the community as all were looking at me as a devil promoting immorality.”

“I started fearing of my life and yet the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by general assembly resolution 217A [iii] of 10 December 1948, Article 2 says Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in the declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

Inspired by the speech of Ms. Kajobe Harriet head at the UHRC Fort portal regional offices;

It was a reminder that the responsibility to protect human rights lies in each individual’s hands, and when a community unites for a common cause, change is not just possible; it is inevitable.

On behalf of the WHRDs Faith Kwebaze a woman defender advocating for the rights of women and girls living with HIV/AIDs pledged to work together with the commission, strategizing ways to engage their communities and continue advocating for those whose voices were often silenced.

They requested the commission to always engage WHRDs in their activities, organize workshops on rights awareness, and collaborate with local law enforcement to ensure a safer environment for all.

This visit was facilitated by Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda [WHRDN-U] a nongovernmental organization that protects women defenders in Uganda with an aim of strengthening their regional networks of women defenders and increase on collaboration and coordination.