Media as catalys to GBV

Muwanga Dev'p Association

Whereas Section 129B of the Penal Code Amendment Act, Act 08 of 2007, provides for payment of compensation to victims of defilement in addition to any sentence imposed on the offender, sexual and gender-based violence offenses are the most common and prevalent offenses committed in Uganda. (16 Feb 2020, CEHURD news Social justice in health- Sexual Violence in Uganda) With a clear referral system like police, Ministry of Health, Parliament, religious sector, the media, Health and Human rights organizations in fighting this vice, there is still an uphill to climb.Worryingly, at least 1,419 cases of rape were reported countrywide (Uganda Police Annual crime report 2015 https://www.upf.go.ug/download/publications(2)/Annual-Crime-Report-2015.pdf?x89335). This rose to 1,572 in 2016 (Annual crime report 2016,) dropped to 1,335 in 2017 (Annual crime report 2017), and rose to 1,580 cases in 2018 (Annual crime report 2018). 1 in 3 women are victims or survivors of sexual violence yet 1 in 6 men are survivors/victims of Rape and Assault. Uganda Violence Against. Women and Girls Survey 2020 -UBOS (The Uganda Violence Against Children (VAC) Survey-August 2018). In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic led to increased gender-based violence since the restrictions caused a lapse in related services delivery.