Guest Blog - Care International | Charity Blog

Guest Blog - Care International

Posted by Gemma Parmar Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:54:33 +0000

care

This year, to mark the International Women's Day, we invited Ugandan Women’s Rights Activist, Judith Adokorach, to London, to share the experiences of women in northern Uganda, which experienced many years of violent conflict. On Monday night, Judith spoke at CARE’s event in Southwark.

She highlighted her personal motivations for working on women’s rights – her narrow escape from abduction by armed men as a school girl, and her subsequent work, campaigning for better protection from violence for women, and increased support for survivors of sexual violence, including access to justice. The guests heard speeches from myself highlighting the campaign and giving examples of international women’s day activities around the world, a speech from Judith, and watched a film about CARE’s response to post election violence in Kenya.

Judith said: “Women’s voices are often silenced in places such as Uganda, and I am happy that I have been able to raise the voices at an international level. We need to ensure that we raise these issues, and continue the struggle, every day, not just on International Women’s Day.”

In Uganda, recent government research suggests that 60-70% of women have experienced violence. During the conflict, women faced rape, physical assault, kidnap, torture and mutilation. Since the peace accords were signed in 2006, violence against women has unfortunately remained high. Women face violence in their communities and in their homes. Perpetrators are not brought to justice, social stigma prevents women from speaking out, and the violence that has risen during conflict permeates post-conflict society.

CARE is calling on all political parties to put women at the heart of their foreign policy priorities. This includes:

o Putting services for women at the centre of all action against rape in war

o Prioritising rape survivors’ rights and needs in efforts to promote justice

o Making the UN system accountable to women

o Addressing the root causes of violence against women.

This year, to mark International Women's Day, we invited Ugandan Women’s Rights Activist, Judith Adokorach, to London, to share the experiences of women in northern Uganda, which experienced many years of violent conflict.

On Monday night, Judith spoke at CARE’s event in Southwark. She highlighted her personal motivations for working on women’s rights – her narrow escape from abduction by armed men as a school girl, and her subsequent work, campaigning for better protection from violence for women, and increased support for survivors of sexual violence, including access to justice.

Judith said: “Women’s voices are often silenced in places such as Uganda, and I am happy that I have been able to raise the voices at an international level.We need to ensure that we raise these issues, and continue the struggle, every day, not just on International Women’s Day.”