Grow food crops or plant trees? The binary dilemma of sustainable forest production and consumption

International_Day_of_Forest_www.onendavid.com
We should not need a reminder that 31 per cent of modern diseases are a result of deforestation, nor another reminder from Franklin D. Roosevelt that “A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forest are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people”. We are at a crucial time to check our consumption of forest products and re-write the history in making bold efforts to grow trees and protect all forest-related resources. It is estimated that forests have the potential of lifting one billion vulnerable people out of poverty and can create 8 million green jobs. If you believe that your children and future generation deserve a much better future, then may this day propel you to make deliberate efforts to do what you can, from where you are, and with what you have!
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Peacekeepers as allies in tackling sexual violence in conflict

Peacekeepers as allies in tackling sexual violence in conflict
When peacekeepers are equipped to understand, respond to and prevent some of the dynamics that can destabilise an often fragile peace, then their value is greatly enhanced in post-conflict situations. This is particularly the case if they are able to engage pro-actively on issues of conflict-related sexual violence and its ‘post-conflict’ manifestations in the form of sexual exploitation and abuse. The report offers testimony to the value of such training endeavours, as well as to the importance of the International Protocol as a guiding document around which to organise both the content and the process.
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What if we responded to sexual violence in conflict as an existential threat? Statement for International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, 2020

Participant showing his message3
In the statement to mark the occasion, RLP asked the question; What if we responded to sexual violence in conflict as an existential threat? The press statement took a critical look at what the national and international response to COVID-19 has taught us thus far about our collective potential to end sexual violence in conflict. If we can mobilise the resources and will to develop a vaccine for COVID-19, if we can close airports and public transport to better control the virus, couldn’t we do the same to better control sexual violence in conflict? While COVID-19 has directly harmed our capacity to respond to survivor needs in the short term, it has also made clear that to eliminate sexual violence in conflict we need a sea change in how it is perceived. We need to see it as the existential threat it undoubtedly is, and invest time, effort and resources correspondingly.
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Uganda’s Commitment to Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Requires ‘Whole-of-Society’ Approach of Intervention

Uganda_Delegation_at_MindTheMind
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.
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In support of the Civil Society Declaration on Sexual Violence

Civil Society Declaration on Sexual Violence 2019
After several years of work on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV), this declaration is a demonstration that through rigorous advocacy, we can collectively realise progressive transformation towards better support for survivors/victims and gender inclusivity. However, herculean hurdles lie ahead of the journeys toward realising contexts where all survivors can access and uptake services without discrimination, and where survivors/victims are not only beneficiaries of services but also active partners in response to and prevention of sexual violence.
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Surviving Torture and Fighting Stigma Workshop

Torture is Real, Speak Up
Following RLP’s contribution at the 49th Session of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture (UNFVT) on 3 April 2019 during which Aimé Moninga and David Onen Ongwech, Programme Manager Gender & Sexuality, represented Refugee Law Project and amplified the voices of male survivors of Conflict-related Sexual Violence (CRSV), we are pleased to share the report of the Public Event and the Annual Expert Workshop produced by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner.
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Transformative Participation is essential for refugee children’s involvement in Uganda’s development

Hits: 48 Editor’s Note: This post was originally published by Refugee Law Project on Saturday 16 June 2018 at 22:47hrs. For those who missed the statement that RLP published on the Day of the African Child, I urge you to find time to read and reflect on this statement which can be accessed via the
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"The Tap": Young Refugee & Host Film-Makers Proactively Advocate for Clean Water Supply in Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement

Hits: 60Editor’s Note: This message was originally published by Refugee Law Project on Friday, May 18, 2018. As a staff of Refugee Law Project, I’m delighted to share with you another outstanding production from young Refugee Film-makers, this time from Kiryandongo refugee settlement, Kiryandongo district. Located some 240km from Kampala on the main north-south highway, Kiryandongo is
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Activists and Activism in the Era of Supposed Globalisation: A Reflection from the Global South

Hits: 75Editor’s Note: This message was originally published by Refugee Law Project on Wed, May 2, 2018 at 8:52hrs. In an age of supposed globalization, access to platforms intending to promote social change is often denied to the very activists who are driving such change. Generally it is activists and academics from the global south
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