Uganda: How Covid-19 pandemic has impacted the work of women human rights defenders
"Covid-19 in the eyes of women human rights defenders"
Ritah Aciro Lacor, Executive Director Uganda Women’s Network: ...As a human rights defender, it was difficult to reach out to communities. Despite these challenges, there are a number of lessons I learnt. For instance, individuals, organisations and nations must prepare for disaster. There is need to lay out clear plans for disasters and strategies to support vulnerable communities, especially persons with disabilities, expectant mothers, the elderly among others. There is also need to sensitise people on the need to prioritise saving and store food for a rainy day. We need to create better communication services, create linkages between national and interdepartmental units to ensure that people are supported even during a crisis. In terms of human rights violations, perpetrators need to be brought to book by strengthening existing laws. The government needs to allocate more funds to overhaul public health services...
Brenda Kugonza, Executive Director, Women Human Rights Defenders Network Uganda: The Covid-19 health crisis has had serious impact on our lives and strategies as women human rights in Uganda. The majority of women human rights organisation or community organisations have had to limit, restrict and suspend their planned activities such as provision of education for the children, support political activities, provide income-generating activities for the women have all put to hold.