Rural Women in Uganda continue to face incredible barriers to their rights to civic freedoms by state and non-state actors. The patriarchal system still grants men powers to control women, their movement, finances and interactions. Women still face detainment for merely reporting sexual violence in authorities. Because of this already patriarchal system, women human rights defenders face additional barriers in campaigning for their rights. They are frequently targeted and shamed by state and non-state actors (including family, communities and society at large). While imprisoned, women are also subject to torture and violence – but largely erased from the public sphere because of entrenched patriarchy.
Women civil society leaders, activists, protesters and human right lawyers are central to shaping public life - through campaigns, protests and policy interventions. Across Uganda, women and girls are at the forefront of mobilizing - for equality, meaningful democratic processes, their freedom to express themselves, safer spaces, and a protected environment, to name just a few. However, the human cost of defending rights remains unacceptably high. Rural Women Human Rights Defenders working in defence of land, environmental or indigenous peoples’ rights that are most often violated in the context of development and related investment activities, are most at risk. They are routinely subjected to stigmatization, labelled as “anti-development,” often quickly leading to criminalization, threats and physical attacks. These attacks are against the Declaration on Human Rights Defenders that was adopted in 1998.
The Declaration on Human Rights Defenders recognizes that everyone has the right “to promote and to strive for the protection and realization of human rights and fundamental freedoms.” Of particular importance for development processes, the Declaration affirms the right to effective access to participation in public affairs, including submission of criticism or opposing views or alternative proposals. It additionally stresses that all members of the international community shall fulfil, jointly and separately, their solemn obligation to promote and encourage respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without distinction. RUWODNET is working to promote safe space for communities and women’s groups and organizations to engage and shape development processes and create spaces for exercising fundamental freedoms. This includes developing policies for rural women human rights defenders to prevent and respond to risks of reprisals, ensuring meaningful access to information, and robust free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples and consultation of other affected communities.