Austrian Development Corporation, UMWA continues its efforts to combat GBV

19 September 2024, 10:27 pm

By Annet Nakato

The Uganda Media Women’s Association (UMWA) is intensifying its campaigns against gender-based violence (GBV) in Uganda by training journalists to report effectively on GBV stories and create an impact. As part of its efforts, UMWA, funded by the Austrian Development Corporation, has engaged survivors and journalists to share their experiences and challenges in addressing GBV.

According to Margaret Sentamu, Executive Director of UMWA, survivors’ voices are often absent from media reports. This is why UMWA is training young mothers who are survivors of GBV to confidently share their stories and understand how to handle GBV cases. She emphasised that survivors are taught to speak freely to the media, as many fear the repercussions of sharing their experiences.

Speaking to the survivors after the training, Namubiru Robinah, a survivor of gender-based violence, has found the courage to speak out following her participation. The training has empowered her to recognise that violence against women and girls is a crime and that she has the right to report it. “I have learned that I don’t have to suffer in silence,” Robinah said. “The training has opened my eyes to new things, and I now know that I have the power to speak out against GBV,” she added.

Maureen Mbabazi from Kawempe division has gained the confidence to use the media to address issues of violence in her community. Mbabazi also noted that the training has equipped her with the skills and knowledge to speak out against violence and bring about positive change.

Through this initiative, UMWA aims to amplify survivors’ voices, promote media sensitivity, and advocate for policy changes to combat GBV in Uganda. By empowering survivors and journalists, UMWA hopes to create a ripple effect in the fight against GBV and promote a culture of respect and equality.