Hidden in Plain Sight: Trafficking in Forced Displacement Contexts
Tuesday, 19 April 2022
While extinguishing and curbing the crime of trafficking demands concerted efforts to enforce the 4 Ps — prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships — in Uganda’s case, there is a need for a paradigm shift from the conventional assumptions and methodologies to interventions with a deliberate forced migration lens. Research on the areas of trafficking and forced migration, as well as development of effective responses will require that we comprehend the impacts caused by conflict, and the fact that conflict-related trafficking is likely a major one.
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When communities resist relocation: rethinking strategies for protecting the displaced residents of Bududa in Uganda
Monday, 26 July 2021
Navigating the question of protection for internally displaced persons (IDPs) require significant attention to their concerns in developing sustainable solutions. In certain instances, relocation may be resisted. Such resistance may be symptomatic of certain issues that need to be addressed. With a specific focus on the Bududa residents in the Mt. Elgon region of Uganda, this Policy Brief written by Onen David Ongwech examines the issue of resistance to relocation and advocates for rethinking protection strategies.
- Published in Forced Migration Podcasts, Human Rights
COVID-19 is a threat to Gender Equality. Let’s #ChooseToChallenge
Friday, 16 April 2021
Dear Reader, Herein, I bring to you a copy of press statement released by Refugee Law Project on March 8, 2021, as the world held its 44th commemoration since the UN officially recognised International Women's Day (IWD) in 1977 to recognise achievements in the struggle for women's empowerment and gender equality. Since the historic UN Security Council Resolution of the 32nd regular session of the United Nations General Assembly in 1977, March 8 has become an important day in modern history when it comes to the struggle for gender justice. From its first commemoration in Uganda in 1984 (pioneered by then first lady Miria Obote) IWD has evolved considerably.
Submission to UN Secretary General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement
Thursday, 15 October 2020
As a former Internally Displaced Person (IDP), being a member of the Global Engagement Network on Internal Displacement in Africa (GENIDA) is simply rewarding. As a proud member, I draw your attention to our submission to the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Internal Displacement.
- Published in Human Rights
NO JUSTIFICATION FOR TORTURE – Press statement for International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Friday, 26 June 2020
Despite the existing legal frameworks prohibiting torture, torture continues to be used in conflict situations and even during supposedly peaceful times. Even prior to the pandemic, incidents of torture by security organs featured in the news. In the last three months, however, these appear to have been exacerbated by the pandemic, with Uganda’s national news dominated by the ordeals of citizens who have been tortured by security organs such as the Police and Local Defense Units (LDUs) in the name of enforcing presidential directives related to COVID-19. Uganda is not alone in this; other countries such as Kenya and India have also seen incidents of torture of civilians in the course of enforcing of COVID-19 directives. What happens when an institution like Uganda Police Force, one of the institutions mandated to receive cases of torture, is itself implicated in violating the non-derogable right to freedom from torture?
- Published in Human Rights, Refugee Debate, Sexual Violence Debate
Child-friendly Justice in Unfriendly Environments? A call for practical solutions for vulnerable young people on the Day of the African Child, 2020
Friday, 26 June 2020
Children come into contact with the justice system for various reasons. The 2019 Situation Analysis on Children in Uganda shows that 27% of children have been exposed to a crime. Despite the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) position that ‘putting children in prison should only be the last resort and for the shortest time possible’, there are children in many of Uganda’s detention facilities. Whereas many children come into contact with the law, many more suffer at the handsof adult abusers. UNICEF’s 2018 situation analysis shows that 44 percent of girls and 59 percent of boys aged 13-17 years had experienced physical violence in 2018. The outbreak of COVID-19 has further heightened the challenges as reporting and response mechanisms are temporarily affected.
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