Call to confront injustice against women

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OPINION

As Uganda prepared to join the rest of the world to celebrate International Women’s Day, the Human Rights Commission organised an Inter-Faith Women Dialogue on Violence Against Women and Children. The event was aimed at discussing the main issues affecting women in the country, including the persistent violence against women and girls. The chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, Mariam Wangadya, delivered a keynote speech during the function at the Muslim Supreme Council Conference Hall in Kampala on March 4. Below is her speech in full.

As-salamu Alaykum, Shalom, greetings in the name of our shared creator, and good morning.

It is a profound honour to stand before you today in this space of dialogue and unity. As we gather under the powerful theme, "Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls,” we do so at a pivotal moment. As Uganda joins the world in celebrating International Women's Day, echoing the global call for equal rights, justice and decisive action, we confront a harsh reality: the world still grapples with the scourge of violence against women and girls.

Let me begin with the sobering truth that statistics reveal. In Uganda, violence remains far too common. According to key national surveys, including the Uganda Violence Against Children Survey and related reports, one in three girls experiences sexual violence during childhood, with one in 10 girls facing rape and one in five reporting their first sexual experience as forced or pressured. Physical violence affects nearly half of children at the hands of caregivers or teachers. For women, lifetime intimate partner violence hovers around 50-55% in many studies, with recent data showing persistent high rates of physical, sexual, psychological and economic abuse.

Globally, hundreds of millions of women face similar fates, but in our country, these numbers translate to real lives shattered, daughters, sisters, mothers, and future leaders robbed of safety and potential. Yet, amid this darkness, we must acknowledge the progress made. Faith communities have been at the forefront: mosques, churches, and other places of worship have opened doors for counselling, awareness campaigns, and safe spaces.

Civil society organisations, supported by legal frameworks like the Domestic Violence Act and the Children Act, have amplified survivor voices. We recognise that the judiciary continues to assert gender equality through decisions that enhance protection for women in marriage relationships. The media continues to expose otherwise hidden abuses, while legal practitioners have pursued justice in courts.

We note that Female Genital Mutilation has significantly reduced following its abolition in 2010, stronger reporting mechanisms, and growing interfaith coalitions condemning gender-based violence as incompatible with our shared values of compassion, dignity, and justice. But progress is uneven.

Prevailing challenges persist. Although we acknowledge how far we have come in protecting women and girls, we know that the fight is far from over. Sexual and gender-based violence continues to present urgent concerns. 12,300 cases of defilement were reported to the police in 2024.

Although the police reported a 3% decrease from 2023, the numbers still remain high. Statistics indicate that 25% of teenage girls have been pregnant by age 19. The care burden lies largely on the shoulders of women as mothers, aunts and grandmothers. This significantly affects their economic status and inadvertently access to services. We are also seeing growing online violence disproportionately impacting girls and women.

Cultural norms that normalise violence, stigma that silences survivors, limited access to justice in rural areas, economic dependence that traps women in abusive situations, and the intersection of poverty, conflict, and displacement that heightens risks—particularly in refugee settlements where rates of gender-based violence remain alarmingly high. Recent research findings underscore these gaps. Under-reporting is rampant, with many survivors fearing reprisal or disbelief. Help-seeking is hindered by weak enforcement, inadequate services, and societal attitudes that blame victims rather than perpetrators.

Dear friends, as people of faith, we cannot stand idle. Our scriptures across traditions—the Quran's emphasis on mercy and protection of the vulnerable, the Bible's call to defend the oppressed, and the shared ethical imperatives of justice—demand more than words. They call for action. Violence against women and children is not merely a social issue; it is a violation of divine trust, a betrayal of the sanctity of life.

Today, let us reflect honestly: We have achieved a lot together. Interfaith women leaders have modelled reconciliation, healing circles, and community education. You have trained faith influencers to recognise signs of abuse and refer cases. You have advocated for policy changes and supported survivors through shelters and legal aid. These are victories worth celebrating.

But reflection also reveals what remains undone. Challenges like online harassment, child marriage in some regions, and the normalisation of corporal punishment demand renewed commitment. The recent research reminds us that violence often cycles through generations. Children witnessing abuse against mothers are more likely to experience or perpetrate it. So, what practical strategies can we agree on for strengthened faith-based action in 2026 and beyond?

I implore us, ladies and gentlemen, to enhance prevention through faith institutions. Let us commit to continually using our pulpits to speak up, let us engage in spaces like these, in workshops, and youth programs that explicitly condemn violence and promote gender equality as a religious duty. To our Faith leaders present here today, model respectful relationships and challenge harmful interpretations.

Let us strengthen support systems. Establish referral pathways; from mosques and churches to legal aid, medical care, and counselling. We must scale up safe houses and hotlines, ensuring they are accessible and confidential.

Thirdly, let us engage men and boys as allies. We must include men in dialogues, holding them accountable as protectors and change-makers.

Lastly, let us invest in data and monitoring through supporting ongoing research to track progress, identify hotspots, and measure the impact of our interventions.

The Uganda Human Rights Commission will continue working with relevant stakeholders to advocate for justice reforms, including pushing for faster case resolution, training for police and judges, and full implementation of existing laws.

Ladies and gentlemen, as I conclude, rights without justice are hollow. Justice without action is incomplete. As we leave this meeting today, let us carry forward a renewed resolve. To protect every woman and girl, to ensure justice prevails, and to act boldly in faith and unity.

For God and My Country