THE SPOTLIGHT hrapf'S work aims at achieving equality, non discriminatioN and access to justice for the most at risk PERSONS IN UGANDA

Dear Reader,

We are delighted to present the 14th issue of the HRAPF Spotlight Newsletter, where we share the highlights of our interventions during the second quarter of 2024 (April - June 2024).

In this period, the HRAPF Board of Directors adopted amendments to our Strategic Plan 2022 - 2027, marking a significant step forward in our mission. These amendments include the modification of the Community Capacity Enhancement Programme and the Advocacy and influencing Programme into the Community Outreach Programme and the Health Rights Programme respectively.

With these additions, our current HRAPF programmes now are; the Access to Justice Programme, Health Rights Programme, Community Outreach Programme, and the Center for Law and Marginalisation programme.

We are excited about these developments and look forward to the positive impact they will have for our communities, and we hope you will be able to see some of the incredible work they have already been doing herein.

Enjoy your read!

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

LEGAL AID SERVICE PROVISION

HRAPF offers free legal aid services to key populations, survivors of gender based violence in refugee settlements, women, girls and health workers in conflict with abortion laws, elderly and indigent persons with land justice challenges and women and girls living with and/or affected by HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV).

IIn the second quarter, HRAPF handled a total of 561 cases, of which 275 involved LGBTIQ persons; 205 cases involved sex workers; 71 cases involved person who use and inject drugs (PWUIDs) and 10 cases involved women and health workers in conflict with abortion laws. The team also documented a total of 128 violations, of which 94 were committed against LGBTIQ persons, 26 against sex workers and 8 against PWUIDs.

The actions taken in handling these cases benefitted a total of 823 individuals, of whom 408 were beneficiaries in cases involving LGBTIQ persons; 282 benefitted from actions taken to address cases involving sex workers; 123 people benefitted from actions taken in addressing cases involving PWUIDs and 10 persons benefitted in abortion-related cases. 

Out of the 561 cases handled in the second quarter, 260 cases were handled at the main legal aid clinic; 168 cases were handled by HRAPF trained community paralegals under the supervision of HRAPF lawyers; 99 cases were handled through the regional legal aid centres in the Northern, Eastern and Western region and 34 cases were handled at the specialised legal aid desks for LBQ women and TGNC persons.

HRAPF also established a specialised legal aid desk for intersex persons during the quarter, hosted by the Support Initiative for Persons with Congenital Disorders (SIPD).

IMPACT OF THE ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY ACT, 2023 ON THE NUMBER AND NATURE OF CASES INVOLVING LGBT+ PERSONS

Although the AHA 2023 remains a significant challenge for the LGBTQ community in Uganda, HRAPF remains dedicated to providing essential legal assistance through the legal aid network and has therefore managed to sustain legal support to affected individuals throughout the quarter.

In April 2024, HRAPF handled a total of 99 cases, a reduction from 111 cases handled in March 2024. Out of the 99 cases handled, 44 cases involved actions that directly targeted people for negative treatment based on their SOGIE, representing 44.4% of all the cases handled during April 2024, indicating a reduction in cases of SOGE-motivated violence from 52 cases in March 2024. Out of the 44 cases in which LGBTIQ people were specifically targeted for detrimental treatment during April 2024, 19 were cases of evictions from rented properties, 17 were cases of violence and threats of violence while 8 were arrests for sexuality-related reasons. These actions affected a total of 61 individuals.

The number of cases in which individuals were targeted for violence and other violations on the basis of their SOGIE further reduced from 44 in April 2024 to 41 in May 2024 (out of a total of 83 cases handles, representing 49.4% of all the cases handled during the month of May 2024). Out of the 41 cases in which LGBTIQ people were specifically targeted for detrimental treatment during May 2024, the largest number of cases involved violence and threats of violence (20), followed by evictions with 16 cases, while there were 5 cases involving arrests for sexuality-related reasons.

This trend held steady in June 2024, where HRAPF handled a total of 81 cases, out of which 32 cases involved actions that directly targeted people for negative treatment on the basis of their SOGIE, representing 39.5% of all the cases handled during the month of June 2024. Out of the 32 cases in which LGBTIQ people were specifically targeted for detrimental treatment during the month of June 2024, 15 cases involved violence and threats of violence against persons on the basis of their SOGIE, 12 were eviction cases while 5 cases involved arrests for sexuality-related reasons.

CENTER ON LAW AND MARGINALISATION

STRATEGIC LITIGATION

The judgment in Consolidated Constitutional Petitions Nos. 14, 15, 16 and 85 was delivered on the 3rd of April 2024 in which the Constitutional Court upheld the constitutionality of the procedure leading to the passing of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 and all its provisions, save for sections 3(2)(c), 9, 11(2)(d) and 14, which were declared unconstitutional. In response to the judgment, HRAPF coordinated, together with Chapter Four, the co-chair of the Legal Committee of the Convening for Equality, the generation and filing of the joint Memorandum of Appeal and filing of Supreme Court Constitutional Appeal No. 007 of 2024 challenging the Constitutional Court decision in consolidated constitutional petitions No. 14, 15, 16 and 85 of 2023. Seven legal strategising meetings were held in pursuit of this objective.

The team also followed up on the three strategic cases of Mukiibi Henry & 19 Others Vs Attorney General & 2 Others at the High Court; the consolidated abortion petitions (No. 10 of 2017, CEHURD Vs AG and No. 25 of 2020, HRAPF Vs AG) at the Constitutional Court, and Kasha Jacqueline Nabagesera & Ors Vs Attorney General (the Lokodo appeal) at the Court of Appeal. No substantive progress has been made on these cases at court. 

HEALTH RIGHTS

The Health Rights Programme is one of the new programmes adopted in the second quarter. This programme will undertake the work of engaging with the various duty bearers on non-discrimination in access to health services for HRAPF’s rights holders. 

HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUES ON MARGINALISATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS

We conducted two dialogues on access to SRHR services with district leaders and health teams in Kabale district on 9th April 2024 and in Soroti district on 5th June 2024. These meetings were held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and included district political and technical persons from the District Health Office, law enforcement, the Mayor's office, KP/HIV Focal persons and area councilors, among others.

Group photo of participants during the dialogue in Kabale district
Group photo of participants during the dialogue in Soroti district

ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE UGANDA AIDS COMMISSION

HRAPF also supported one meeting of the KP steering committee of the Uganda AIDS Commission to discuss access to HIV services in prison settings on 29th June 2024.

Group photo of participants

HUMAN RIGHTS WORKSHOPS DUTY BEARERS

One workshop was conducted for 20 police officers in Rakai district, from 24th to 25th April 2024 focusing on engaging officers on human rights principles and the human rights-based approach to policing marginalised communities.

Participants during the session

Three workshops were also held with health workers in Kyotera district on 28th May 2024, in Bushenyi district on 30th May 2024 and in Isingiro district on 8th April 2024, reaching a total of 83 individuals with critical information on human rights and the right to health for marginalised persons.

SRHR ADVOCACY TRAINING FOR INTERSEX PERSONS

Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) and services are a fundamental set of human rights and a core component of human existence. Intersex persons continue to bear the brunt of limited access to SRH services, commodities and rights due to several intersecting issues like stigma and discrimination from their families and health workers, limited SRH services tailored to their needs, limited knowledge of SRH needs of intersex persons, and sexual and gender based violence, among other challenges.

We therefore conducted on SRHR advocacy training with 10 intersex persons from 27th to 31st May 2024. The training was an opportunity to equip intersex persons with knowledge and skills to enable them to advocate for the inclusion of their SRHR needs on the national SRHR programming agenda. The training was attended by intersex persons from Tororo, Fort Portal, Kyotera, Mbarara, Masaka, and Gulu.

SUPPORT TO ADVOCACY CHAMPIONS TO CONDUCT ADVOCACY

In the period, HRAPF supported two trained SRHR advocacy champions from the Western region to hold advocacy engagements with duty bearers in their districts. One champion was supported to conduct a meeting with midwives on the SRHR needs of intersex persons in Mbarara on 27th April 2024, while the second champion was supported to conduct a dialogue with various duty bearers on access to SRHR services for Key populations in Fort Portal on 21st June 2024. The dialogues were attended by 15 participants each.

REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY

HRAPF attended the 79th session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights from 15th to 31st May 2024, where Tracy Ivy Nakayenga presented a statement on the situation of human rights of Key Populations in Uganda on 18th May 2024.

Dr. Adrian Jjuuko attended an event in commemoration of IDAHOBIT on 17th May 2024 and a meeting on decriminalisation of punitive laws against KPs from 19th to 25th May 2024 in Paris, France.

Notably, HRAPF was also privileged to attend the Imara Women's Center fundraising dinner organised by Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) on 15th June 2024, where we made a contribution towards the construction of the center

MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS

One TV talk show was held on Rest TV on 25th June 2024 on land rights issues. Julius Ssentamu and Maria Elizabeth Nampiima represented HRAPF.

Panelists at the TV talk show

COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMME

AWARENESS SESSIONS

In the period, we conducted 5 awareness sessions with sex workers in Hamukungu landing site in Kasese district on 22nd May; at the Mpondwe border post in Bwera on 23rd May; in Bundibugyo district on 24th May and in Kampala on 5th June 2024, and a total of 181 participants attended. The discussions were on the law, safety and security and access health and legal services. 

The Director of Programmes facilitating at one of the awareness sessions with sex worker leaders
Programme Director facilitating at the awareness session in Bundibugyo
Pictorial of participants at the session in Kabalagala

COMMUNITY PARALEGAL TRAINING PROGRAMME

PARALEGAL TRAININGS

HRAPF continued to empower communities to advance their rights through the training of peer leaders as community paralegals.

The second module of the paralegal training for 10 sex workers was held from 29th April to 3rd May 2024. The final module of the second cohort of sex worker paralegals was conducted from 24th to 28th June 2024, and a paralegal pass out ceremony was held on 28th June, attended by the 10 paralegals, 13 partners and 8 staff of HRAPF to commemorate the completion of the training.

Lawyer facilitating at the second module of the paralegal training for sex workers
The Deputy Executive Director giving remarks at the paralegal pass out ceremony
Group photo of participants at the pass out ceremony

PARALEGAL SHARING SESSIONS

The paralegal sharing sessions are used as an avenue for the community paralegals to share their experiences and challenges during the quarter, seek solutions and guidance from the lawyers and from fellow community paralegals who may be experiencing similar challenges and mutually encourage and support one another.

In the second quarter of 2024, we conducted 5 paralegal sharing sessions with 96 paralegals from the different KP communities to discuss their work and the challenges they were experiencing in extending paralegal support services to their communities in the quarter.

SUPPORT TO PARALEGALS TO FURTHER THEIR STUDIES

HRAPF continued to support two community paralegals pursuing their degrees in Law at Cavendish University. 

INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO KEY POPULATION ORGANISATIONS

In the quarter, we paid courtesy visits to 20 community organisations. We also attended 12 meetings organised by HRAPF partners. In addition, 1 organisation was supported to complete their registration as an NGO and a registration certificate and operating license secured for them; 1 organisation was supported to register as a company limited by guarantee; 6 organisations were supported to file annual returns and 8 organisations were support to file resolutions with the registrar of companies.

HRAPF SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES

STAFF BIRTHDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS

During the second quarter of 2024, we celebrated the birthdays of staff members born in April, May, and June, along with various personal and professional achievements. Among the highlights were the wedding celebration of Ms. Harriet Ndagire, our dedicated front desk officer, and the graduation of Kato Paul, a legal associate, from the Law Development Center. To promote staff wellness, we organised a series of fun-filled activities including monthly staff recreational and team building activities, mental health talks and dance therapy sessions in collaboration with MINET.

Pictorial of the HRAPF secretariat activities

HRAPF COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER

HRAPF established a community center equipped with computers and open to HRAPF’s clients.