Prog. Manager | Refugee Law Project Staff | SOAS Alumni | Online Radio Talkshow Host | Gender & Sexuality Activist
This piece explores the dynamics of working from home. It argues that 'Work' went 'Home' at a time when Home wasn’t prepared to receive Work, yet. As such, whereas Work and Home are currently quarantined together, the two are having trouble forging a progressive relationship and peaceful co-existence. The duo sees each other with resentment, anger, and frustration; Home wondering when the uninvited guest will bid farewell. Also, ‘Work’ wonders why our grandfather continues to play games of ‘lock-unlock-lock…’ making the stubborn visitor, who could easily drive back, to wait for Government masks.
A thought-provoking blog piece written by Wokorach Mogi, our SGBVP Officer – Kampala Office. In his piece, titled “The Loud Silence: The plight of refugee male survivors of conflict-related sexual violence” Mogi brings out his extensive experience in the complex field of working with refugee male survivors of Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV) in Kampala, Gulu and Nakivale. He explicates key challenges male survivors grapple with, especially focusing on dilemmas in seeking and uptaking services so as to (re)gain their full functionality as well as lead dignified lives.
Achieving meaningful social co-existence begins with our readiness to embrace diversity, and in championing creative ways of addressing injustices - including unleashing head-on approaches depending on the situation. Progress in businesses, household harmony and professional growth largely depend on how we treat the less privileged, underpaid, and the less qualified personnel who are often ignored and sometimes treated as if they are lesser human beings.
In the wake of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, and the fact that all Uganda’s neighbours with the exception of South Sudan have reported confirmed COVID-19 cases in the last 48 hours, UCA and RLP have made the decision to postpone the 16th Annual Counsellors’ Conference on the theme “Attaining a Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body: Focus on Forced Migration, Mental Health and Gender” that was scheduled for March 25-27, 2020.
On March 8, 2020 during the commemoration of the International Women’s Day at Ofua Primary School Playground in Adjumani district, RLP was recognized by UN Women, Adjumani District Local Government, and the Office of the Prime Minister for its “Outstanding contribution towards promoting Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Adjumani District”. During this same event, Mercy Wanda Achiro, RLP’s Legal Assistant Adjumani Field Office was recognised as one of the committed and dedicated activists in the region.
The international criminal law (ICL) system can only hear and describe a tiny fraction of what people experience, particularly when it comes to sexual violence. The ICL system not only makes it difficult for victims to disclose their experiences, but often misplaces, deprioritises and erases the sexual elements of violence under other headings such as ‘torture’ and ‘inhumane treatment’. This is what inspired ‘Call It What It Is’, a campaign designed to enable victims to freely testify in a system where sexual violence is better articulated.
Launched in The Hague in June 2019, the IGC Justice Impact Group’s first project on advancing understanding of all forms of sexual violence is making steady progress. The Declaration is available in English and in French and will soon be available in Spanish and Arabic. The three documents (the Civil Society Declaration, the ICL Guidelines and the Key Principles for Policy Makers) will together form The Hague Principles on Sexual Violence.
On 23 October 2019, the UN Secretary-General announced the establishment of a High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement in an event organised to mark the 10-anniversary of the adoption of the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Africa a.k.a Kampala Convention. Herein, I argue that the yet to be composed panel should look deeply into the vulnerabilities of refugees and focus on addressing the root causes of internal displacements.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands recently (7-8 October 2019) demonstrated its commitment to improving Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) for millions of people affected by conflicts and forced displacements through the first International Conference on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Crisis held in Amsterdam. I bring to you the (audio-recorded) speech of Dr. Olaro Charles, Director of Clinical Services at the Ministry of Health who represented the Government of the Republic of Uganda at the conference.