Key Lessons from the Conference on Conflict Related SGBV Redress Mechanism

Participants including government representatives, cultural leaders, CSOs, members of parliament and the victim’s communities posed for a group photo following the conference held at parliament of Uganda on March 22, 2019. Photo Credit, Benard Okot.

The Justice and Reconciliation Project with support from Trust Africa held a national conference on redress mechanism for survivors of conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence in Kampala, Uganda on March 22nd, 2019.
The conference was held under the theme: ‘’Ensuring that the appropriate strategies are used by the central government in meeting the needs of conflict-affected SGBV victims in northern Uganda’’.
This followed a motion that was adopted the parliament of Uganda early this year in February in which the government accepted to support women and their children affected by the Lord’s Resistant Army (LRA) war, it was discussed that there is need to think of a practical strategy of actualizing the motion moved into the project; especially one that can answer the urgent needs of the women and their children.

CSOs representatives from Jutsice and Reconciliation Project (Left), Refugee Law Project and FIDA (Right) presenting during the national conference at Parliament of Uganda. Photo Credit, Benard Okot.

Many stakeholders were present including cultural leaders, politicians, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), victims or formerly abducted women, government officials, civil servants, a child born in captivity and members of the academia. The aim was to recapitulate on the specific needs of the victims of conflict-related sexual and gender based violence in northern Uganda, strengthen policy and programs in regard to the reconstruction in order to address the transitional challenges affecting victims of Conflict-related sexual and gender-based violence and develop appropriate strategies tailored towards meeting the transitional justice needs of war-affected women and children in northern Uganda.
Much as previous efforts made by the government and other actors to address justice and reconciliation needs for victims were acknowledged and reflected on as learning points. However, participants recommended that a lot more needs to be done. They also reflected on the gaps in government interventions in supporting women and came up with strategies that can contribute to meeting these needs. Participants noted that the issue of war-affected women and children should be taken as a matter of public and national interest.
The key message sent during the event was that there was need to make rational, evidence-based policies that address the specific needs of the women. Concerns and issues raised should be taken into consideration during policy and program development.

By Benard Okot, with additional writing from Nancy Apiyo