Tag Archives: Women’s Advoacy Network

Building a future together: two families joining hands to change the lives of those who experienced LRA captivity

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Maternal and paternal family of child born from captivity laugh and share stories together. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP
Maternal and paternal family of child born from captivity laugh and share stories together. Photo by Patrick Odong/JRP

The maternal and paternal family of a child born from captivity have joined hands to brighten their futures together through the child reintegration programme. 

In 2016, JRP and WAN supported one mother through the child reintegration project, in which her child who was born in captivity was reunited with their paternal home. After being contacted by the mother to express her gratitude for the team and the project, JRP conducted a follow-up visit with the mother to the paternal family in Palaro parish, Odek sub-county, to see how the families were working together.

The happiness and love shown by the two families for each other was greatly reflected in the stories told. The mother told JRP how the families had combined their efforts and resources to support the child at school and ensure the child has a bright future. The paternal family has not only given the mother a plot of their ancestral land to plough, but has identified a strategic piece of their land in the centre of Odek for the mother to build a business. By generously giving land and helping her to build a business and home in Odek, they ensure that she is close to the child and the family. The paternal family opened their arms to her other children and proclaimed that together they will join hands together to build a strong future for her and her children.

This story sheds light on how families across war-torn communities are supporting each other in life after the LRA conflict. Often those who return from captivity are faced with stigmatisation and rejection from their local communities. By providing a platform for these families to engage in dialogue and discussion over their experiences, hopes and interests for those children born in captivity, JRP hopes to bring light to the lives of many conflict survivors.

 

Women establishing a new peace agenda

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From 26 April to the 2May 2015, Women’s Advocacy Network chairperson Evelyn Amony and I travelled to The Hague to attend a conference organised by the Women’s International League for peace and Freedom (WILPF). The trip was organised by Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice (WIGJ). This conference was aimed at bringing together hundreds of women peacemakers from all over the world to establish a new peace agenda for the 21st century. Members who attended the meeting joined other international activists to celebrate the work of women peace makers all over the world. One of the outcomes of the conference was a resolution condemning bombing, blockading and the use of explosive weapons in populates areas in Yemen.

During this period we also attended the launch for the WIGJ publication Women’s Voices.  During the launch of the WIGJ publication Evelyn shared her experience as a female survivor of the war in northern Uganda and discussed  how she has managed to pick up and become an advocate for gender justice r with other women.  She also shared about the work of the Women’s Advocacy Network.

We also participated in an open lecture at the Interntional Criminal Court premises with the prosecutors, investigators, analysts and advisors to the prosecutor on the conflict in northern Uganda. We shared our experience working towards ensuring victim-centred justice with the ICC team, including the aspect of reparation, reconciliation and victim’s involvement.  We also shared about the dynamics of the conflict in northern Uganda were a victim can also at the same time a perpetrator.

Read more about the work of the Women’s Advocacy Network here.