Uganda's Youth Line Forum Addresses Violence Through Advocacy and Community Initiatives
The Youth Line Forum Uganda, a youth led organization has requested the government, upon closure of their 16 days of activism, tackling gender-based violence, to respond amicably to GBV cases thereby setting up a centre that addresses specifically the concern.
The 16 days of activism started on 25th November and they made outreaches to homes and different groups in the society, including victims, perpetrators, community leaders and law enforcers. These talks allowed people to share personal stories and ideas on how to end Gender Based Violence.
During a press conference, Tuesday at their headquarters, kampala, Leah Mugasa, the programs coordinator Youth Line Forum, representing the Executive Director of the Forum, Ruth Asiimwe, said in their work, they advocate for both women and men but they have also included diversity equity, inclusion and justice for all, engaging boys and girls at the University, people in the community, informal and formal sector to ensure that in the fight against GBV all are involved.
During the 16 days of activism against GBV, atleast over a thousand active participants online and offline, including women, men and young people have been sensitized and committed to being change agents in their communities, youth have also been empowered to take on leadership roles in fighting GBV out of tje communities, Owen Rubunda, Youth activist with Youth Line Forum Uganda said.
As the forum, since most youth engage so much on social media spaces, “we have been active in making posters, sharing to youth for circulating on their spaces as they advocate the fight against GBV.”
The major challenges are the deeply cultural stereotypes, people fear to report GBV cases to police in fesr of shame, children do not speak infear of loosing support from parents, among others, he added.
Natasha Ahereza, a member with Youth Line Forum, mentioned that they are strongly imploring government to also take strong position as there are many GBV cases, but instead limited resources to support in funding these cases to meet justice.
She Indicated that according to the 2023 Police Crime Report, 14,681 cases of domestic violence were reported to police. Out of these reported cases, 1,520 cases reached court resulting in only 423 convictions.
Despite the government of Uganda launching the National Gender-Based Violence Action Plan in 2016 that is in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 calling for elimination of all forms of Gender Based Violence, this vice of GBV continues to prevail in Uganda.
About Youth Line Forum
YLF is a non-government not for profit organization which works with young people to inspire and empower them to transform communities. YLF works to equip young people with economic, social and life skills to give them leverage to a responsible and dignified life. YLF also gives a platform to young people to become active and participating citizens who can analyse, validate and use data to engage with and hold their leaders to account; in an effort to address community development challenges and to improve the relevance and effectiveness of youth policies and programmes. YLF creates awareness about the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and supports youth to analyse existing data to hold leaders accountable to the goals.
