Dear Reader,
We are delighted to present the 15th issue of the HRAPF Spotlight Newsletter, where we share the highlights of our interventions during the third quarter of 2024 (July-September 2024).
In the quarter, HRAPF implemented its activities under the following programmes: the Access to Justice Programme, Health Rights Programme, Community Outreach Programme, and the Center for Law and Marginalisation.
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).
In the third quarter, HRAPF handled a total of 472 cases, benefitting 513 persons. Of these, 231 cases involved LGBT persons and benefitted 260 persons; 178 cases involved sex workers and benefitted 186 persons; and 63 cases involved PWUIDs benefitting 67 persons.
Out of the cases handled in the third quarter, 187 cases were handled at the main legal aid clinic; 148 cases were handled by HRAPF trained community paralegals under the supervision of HRAPF lawyers; 59 cases were handled through the Northern regional legal aid center; 31 cases were handled through the Eastern regional legal aid center; 22 cases were handled in the Western regional legal aid center; 18 cases were handled at the specialised legal aid desks for TGNC persons and 3 cases were handled at the specialised desk for intersex persons.
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 July 2024, HRAPF handled 72 cases involving LGBTQ persons, a slight drop from the 81 cases handled the previous month. Of these, 34 cases—nearly half of the total—were instances where individuals faced negative treatment based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression (SOGIE). This marked a small increase from June, where there were 32 such cases, reflecting a 6.25% rise. The number of victims also increased from 34 in June to 40 in July, representing a 17.6% increase. Of the 34 cases specifically targeting LGBTIQ individuals in July, 13 involved violence or threats of violence, 11 cases were arrests based on sexual orientation or gender identity, and 10 cases involved evictions.
In August 2024, HRAPF witnessed a decline in the number of cases handled, with a total of 56 cases, reflecting a 22.2% drop from the 72 cases recorded in July. Of these, 20 cases involved negative treatment of individuals based on their SOGIE, making up 35.7% of the month's cases. This marked a significant decrease of 41.2% from July’s 34 cases. Similarly, the number of victims dropped from 40 in July to 24 in August, a 40% reduction. Among the 20 cases targeting LGBTIQ individuals in August, 10 involved violence or threats of violence, 9 were eviction cases, and 1 was an arrest related to sexual orientation or gender identity.
In September 2024, HRAPF handled 72 cases, marking a 28.6% increase from the 56 cases handled in August. Of these, 16 cases involved negative treatment of individuals based on their SOGIE, representing 22.2% of the total. The number of SOGIE-related cases has been steadily declining, from 34 in July to 20 in August and 16 in September. Despite the drop in cases, the number of victims rose slightly, from 24 in August to 27 in September, though still fewer than in July. Of the 16 cases targeting LGBTIQ individuals in September, 9 involved violence or threats of violence, 5 were arrests on sexuality-related charges, and 2 involved evictions.
CENTER ON LAW AND MARGINALISATION
STRATEGIC LITIGATION
In the period, HRAPF filed, in collaboration with all petitioners under the Convening for Equality, the Supreme Court Constitutional Appeal No 007 of 2024 (the AHA Appeal), filed on 11th July, 2024. This appeal arises from the judgment of the Constitutional Court in Consolidated Constitutional Petitions No. 14, 15, 16 and 85 of 2023, Hon. Fox Odoi-Oywelowo and 21 others v Attorney General and 3 others, delivered on 2nd April 2024, which substantially upheld provisions of the Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023.
The team held four legal strategising meetings to prepare for upcoming hearings in our strategic cases, and also followed up on 4 pending matters before the Constitutional Court and the High Court.
THE HEALTH RIGHTS PROGRAMME
DIALOGUE WITH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ON THE LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK ON ABORTION IN UGANDA
In collaboration with Medical Students for Choice and USAWA Initiative, HRAPF conducted a dialogue with 105 students from Lira University on 10th August 2024 on the legal and policy regime governing abortion in Uganda, covering aspects of choice and conscience, human rights and public health and law, religion and morality in relation to the right to access safe abortion services. The dialogue was attended by 54 female students and 51 male students.
MEETINGS WITH UGANDA HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
HRAPF also engaged, at the invitation of the Chairperson, with the Uganda Human Rights Commission on the human rights situation for LGBTIQ+ persons in Uganda. HRAPF was also able to facilitate an engagement between community leaders from the LGBTQ and Intersex communities and the Uganda Human Rights Commission in order to foster discussion on the Commission’s role in and commitment to addressing human rights concerns for these communities.
ENGAGEMENTS WITH THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND UGANDA AIDS COMMISSION
In the period, HRAPF facilitated at the sensitisation meetings targeting service providers and community representatives in different regions of the country on KP service delivery organised by the Ministry of Health and Uganda AIDS Commission, where HRAPF’s presentation focused on continuity of HIV and AIDS services for Key Populations (KP) in the current legal and regulatory environment including the AHA amendments and Equity plan. The meetings were held in Jinja on 6th August, Mbale on 8th August, Lira on 14th August, Gulu on 16th August, Kabale on 20th August and in Mbarara on 22nd August 2024. The meetings were facilitated by Ms. Flavia Zalwango the Director of Programs and Mr. Edward Ssemambo the Centre on Law and Marginalisation.
In addition, HRAPF supported the Ministry of Health to conduct the Key Population Technical Working Group meeting on 2nd August 2024, at which the TWG specifically discussed STI surveillance in Uganda, incidences of violations of LGBT persons at Drop in Centers and access to services for KPs at health centers in Uganda. The meeting was attended by 28 participants attended the meeting.
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 12th to 16th August 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.
SUPPORT TO ADVOCACY CHAMPIONS TO CONDUCT ADVOCACY
During the period, HRAPF supported one trained SRHR advocacy champion from the Western region to a dialogue with duty bearers on access to SRHR services for Key Populations in Kasese district. The dialogue was attended by 26 participants and conducted on 25th July 2024.
WORKSHOPS WITH OFFICERS FROM UGANDA PRISONS
In a bid to discuss access to HIV services for Key Populations in prisons, HRAPF conducted two workshops for officers from the Uganda Prisons Service from various prisons in Wakiso and Hoima districts.
One workshop was conducted with 21 prison officers from Wakiso district on 18th September 2024 and the second workshop was conducted in Hoima district on 19th September with 25 prison officers.
WORKSHOPS WITH POLICE OFFICERS
One training for 42 police officers was conducted on 22nd -23rd July 2024 in Iganga district. The workshop covered topics such as marginalisation, human rights and employing a human rights based approach in policing.
SRHR CAMP
One SRHR camp was conducted on 28th September 2024 in commemoration of International Safe Abortion Day. It was attended by 55 participants, 53 adolescent girls and young women and 2 stakeholders. The event was conducted in partnership with the Uganda Network of Young People Living with HIV (UNYPA) and was aimed at raising awareness of the cost of unsafe abortions and lack of access to contraception for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda.
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL ADVOCACY
The Executive Director Dr. Adrian Jjuuko, made a presentation on strategic litigation and the hope of nullifying Uganda’s Anti Homosexuality Act 2023 at the annual strategic litigation and advocacy workshop for LGBTIQ+ human rights defenders in Africa organised by Center for Human Rights of the University of Pretoria on 23rd July 2024.
Dr. Adrian Jjuuko attended the Bergen Exchanges on Law and Social Transformation organised by the Center for Law and Social Transformation, University of Bergen, on 20th August 2024 in Norway.
Mr. Edward Mwebaza and Ms. Justine Balya represented HRAPF at the Steering Committee meeting for partners working with AIDS Fondet from 14th to 26th August 2024 in Denmark, during which period they participated in Copenhagen Pride events, including a public debate on the impact of the western anti-rights movement on the rights of LGBTQ persons in Africa, as well as a briefing with members of the Danish Parliament on the human rights situation for Key Populations in Uganda and Malawi.
Ms. Flavia Zalwango attended the Regional strategies workshop on the right to education for LGBT+ persons on 6th-8th August 2024.
Ms. Justine Balya attended the Third Data for Governance Alliance Convening in Nairobi from 5th -9th August 2024, focusing on the role of the youth in democracy and development processes across the continent, as well as human rights generally and freedom of expression in particular as a core element of peace and stability.
Ms. Flavia Zalwango attended the Forum on Internet Freedom in Africa that was held in Dakar, Senegal organised by CIPESA to discuss digital rights and the internet freedom landscape in Africa from 25th to 17th September 2024.
MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS
One community baraza TV talk show was conducted and aired on Baba TV on 27th September 2024. The baraza was held in Nawanyingi village in Iganga district. It was attended by 44 participants physically and the online stream was viewed by 121 persons.
We also conducted a press conference with various journalists during the filing of the Supreme Court case on 11th July 2024.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMME
AWARENESS SESSIONS
In the period, we conducted 9 awareness sessions with Key Populations and 2 awareness sessions with Intersex persons on the legal framework, safety and security and access health and legal services.
The sessions were conducted as follows; In Gulu district on 31st July 2024 with 32 participants; in Arua district on 1st August with 24 participants; in Nebbi district on 2nd August with 31 participants; in Soroti district on 15th August with 22 participants; in Entebbe on 15th August 2024 with 29 participants; in Mbale district on 16th August with 28 participants; in Ntungamo district on 22nd August with 32 participants; in Mbarara district on 23rd August with 30 participants; and in Masaka district on 24th August with 29 participants.
We also held two awareness sessions with intersex persons from Gulu district on 28th August with 30 participants and in Tororo district on 30th August with 35 participants.
We also held one awareness session in partnership with Lady Mermaids Empowerment Center in commemoration of Sex Workers Pride Day on 14th September, 2024. We had discussions on HIV, Gender Based Violence (GBV), and femicide affecting sex workers. A representative of Uganda Police also shared on how sex workers can collaborate with police to address GBV and femicide.
COMMUNITY PARALEGAL TRAINING PROGRAMME
PARALEGAL TRAININGS
HRAPF continued to empower communities to advance their rights through the training of peer leaders as community paralegals.
In the third quarter, a new class of paralegals from the KP community was trained in all 3 modules of the training, and all 10 trainees successfully completed the course. A paralegal pass-out ceremony was held for the 10 paralegals 24th August 2024.
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 third quarter of 2024, we conducted one paralegal sharing session with 27 paralegals from the sex worker's community on 18th July 2024. The paralegals shared about 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, and one paralegal who is still pursuing a Diploma in Law at the Law Development Centre.
INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT TO KEY POPULATION ORGANISATIONS
In the quarter, we paid courtesy visits to 15 community organisations. We also attended 7 meetings organised by HRAPF partners and engaged in 5 meetings with KP community leaders. In addition, 3 organisations were supported to complete their registration, 5 organisations were supported to file annual returns and 4 organisations were supported to file resolutions with the registrar of companies. We also completed data updates in the Online Business Registration System for 6 organisations.
The HRAPF’s Community Centre was also used 8 times to conduct activities by various community organisations.
HRAPF SECRETARIAT ACTIVITIES
STAFF BIRTHDAYS AND CELEBRATIONS
During the third quarter of 2024, we celebrated the birthdays of staff members born in July, August and September along with various personal and professional achievements. Among the highlights were the wedding celebrations of Mr. Clovice Nyakatura, our senior community paralegal, and Mr. Julius Ssentamu, the Director of the Health Rights Programme. To promote staff wellness, we organised a series of fun-filled activities, including the quarterly team building activity and the monthly staff recreational and team-building activities.
HRAPF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
HRAPF conducted its 15th Annual General Meeting on 14th September 2024. The meeting was attended by staff, HRAPF members, Trustees and the 7th Board of Directors who presented to members the Annual report of 2023.
We thank all our clients, partners and donors for the support during the year 2023.
Credits:
Created with images by • undefined - undefined