Enhancing Women’s Rights Online through Inclusive and Effective Response to Online Gender-Based Violence in Uganda.
Funder: Digital Human
Rights Lab (DHRLab)
Partner: Makerere University School of Women and
Gender Studies.
Project
Overview
Online gender-based violence experienced
by women in Uganda remains the most ignored form of violence at personal,
societal, and policy levels, yet it causes real and more harmful attacks, threats,
and intimidation to women like all other forms of violence that are highly
condemned under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). This harm
exists because the internet is dominated by patriarchy and allows widespread
anonymity which grants perpetuators absolute power to shame, ridicule, and
torture women in any way they feel like doing. Between March to October 2021, WOUGNET
conducted nationwide research on the types, spread, and impact of online
gender-based violence on women’s rights online to produce a research report for
knowledge sharing and policy advocacy. The study was conducted in the five
administrative regions of Uganda that is to say; Northern, Eastern, Western,
Central, and Southern specifically in the districts of Lira, Jinja, Kampala,
Kabarole, and Kabale. The tool testing was conducted in the Wakiso district to
ensure the accuracy and consistency of the online gender-based violence survey
tools developed. The findings of the research study were used to innovatively organize
the digital security and online safety capacity-building training for women
journalists/bloggers, politicians, law enforcement officers, and University
students. Awareness creation was done using the smart media technologies
popularly accessed and used in Uganda that improved the current online
situation for female internet users. Additionally, Radio jingles were played on
6 radio stations located in the 5 administrative regions of Uganda for two
weeks using five local languages widely spoken in Uganda to create awareness of
online gender-based violence and influence key behaviors, actions, and
attitudes that impact the most vulnerable and excluded children and their
families for positive outcomes. This was able to enhance women’s rights online
through creating an enabling environment for inclusive and effective response
to online gender-based violence in Uganda.
Project
Duration: March 2021- November 2021
