STAY SAFE: Bwera Women & Girls Freed from Violence

Although Uganda has made great strides in recent years towards combating domestic violence and other forms of violence, through legislation and policies and by adhering to agreed standards and operating procedures in the workplace and in the home, many women are still victims of male violence, and suffer from having their rights violated by men and boys. 

It was identified that men use aggression to assume power and control in their homes and in many cases their shame at failure to provide for the family is covered up by acts of violence against their spouses and children. Women are sexually abused, physically harassed including being forced to engage in unwanted sexual activity, and many have contracted diseases like HIV/AIDS due to their inability to defend themselves or fight for their rights. The result is emotional, psychological and physical harm to these women and their families, and huge cost to the community in social and economic terms.

 Bwera Charity Project Uganda (BCPU) proposes to implement a Women’s Rights Advocacy Project, in the Bukonzo West area in Eastern Uganda,  in order to promote a more positive social and cultural perception of women and girls in the local community, and in Ugandan society at large by engaging with local political, religious, and cultural leaders, as well as with local press and media outlets. 

Local women and men will be engaged with the project through the formation of seven ‘Human Rights Clubs’, one located at each sub-county in Bukonzo West. At these ‘Clubs’, the participants will learn about the concept and importance of human rights and gender equality, the damage which abuse causes to perpetrators and victims alike, and the practical ways to create the kinds of healthy relationships which bring greater happiness to everyone.

This model for creating a change in the attitudes of the men and boys towards using violence with their wives and partners, and in the women's awareness of their human rights and their right to refuse to acccept any kind of abuse or violence from their husband or partner, has proved to be very effective in other parts of Uganda. All money raisied will go directly to support the delivery of this project