AWAC Equips Women Human Rights Defenders with Knowledge Against Violence

Summary:

• The Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC) has trained grassroots human rights defenders on UN Women-supported guidelines, empowering vulnerable women to recognize and respond to rights violations, both offline and online.

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The Alliance of Women Advocating for Change (AWAC), a sex work-led organization, has educated grassroots human rights defenders on the offline and online guidelines developed with UN Women’s support.

These guidelines aim to empower vulnerable women, including sex workers and women living with HIV, to recognize and respond to rights violations.

Kyomya Macklean, AWAC’s Executive Director, highlighted that many defenders are unaware of how to handle issues like pay and working conditions.

She noted the mysterious killings of several sex workers, including Madrine Nakuya and Flavia Ajuka, and the lack of justice for their families.

“We are sensitizing them on when to know rights are being violated, when using gadgets like phones and computers what do you expect. When your rights are violated, what procedures can you follow, who are the stakeholders they can work with.” Kyomya said.

Similarly, Edward Mwebaza of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum stressed the state’s obligation to protect human rights defenders, who often face attacks and violations.

He cited instances where his organization was broken into and no police reports were made, reflecting a broader issue faced by over 50 NGOs in Uganda.

“Because there is a lot of abuse of civic space, human rights defenders also find themselves in situations of being attacked and violated.”

The Uganda National NGO Forum’s report revealed a lack of trust in regulators like the National NGO Bureau and the Financial Intelligence Authority. Despite low risks of terrorism financing, some NGOs face higher threats, particularly those teaching the Quran or operating in insecure areas.

Stephen Okello, Head of the National NGO Bureau, emphasized the need for capacity building to enhance compliance with regulations.

“If you don’t have a compliance officer and you think the CEO is the one to remember each and everything, then you are going to always find yourself on the other side of the law.” Okello noted.

As for Lazarus Mukasa, Deputy Head of FIA, urged NGOs to guard against money laundering to prevent destabilization, noting that some NGOs had attempted to receive illegal funds.

He also highlighted the progress NGOs are making in best practices, such as data protection.

“The results show that all NGOs broadly were at low risk of terrorism financing but few specific categories were identified to be at a higher risk than the rest. NGOs which operate teachings of the Quran but also NGOs which operate in areas of insecurity have high terrorist threats.”

Key Elements of the Guidelines

The guidelines emphasize the importance of both digital and physical security measures. In the digital realm, Women Human Rights Defenders are encouraged to implement robust cybersecurity practices such as using strong, unique passwords for different services, installing antivirus software, and being cautious with personal information shared online. Simple steps, like using unregistered mobile phones for sensitive communication and ensuring all data is deleted before discarding old devices, are highlighted to prevent data breaches.

Physically, the guidelines advocate for increased awareness of surroundings, maintaining regular communication with trusted contacts, and having a clear plan for emergencies. The guidelines also recommend practical strategies for enhancing personal safety, including self-defence training and the safe use of transportation.

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