Rape and Gender Violence

Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs has organized a workshop on Rape and Gender violence in Fort Portal. So many women are beaten, forced into sex and abused by in many forms by people who are known to them including their own male partners.

Isagara Nyakaana the Director Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs said during the workshop that  Gender-based violence both reflects and reinforces inequities between men and women and compromises the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims. It encompasses a wide range of human rights violations, including sexual abuse of children, rape, domestic violence, sexual assault and harassment, trafficking of women and girls and several harmful traditional practices. Any one of these abuses can leave deep psychological scars, damage the health of women and girls in general, including their reproductive and sexual health, and in some instances, results in death.

That abuse of women by intimate partners, marital rape, dowry abuse and murders, partner homicide, psychological abuse, sexual abuse in the workplace, sexual harassment, rape, abuse of women with disabilities are all Gender discrimination

Kaana Foundation Orphans

Some of orphan children who live in poor conditions. Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs Director and one Judith a volunteer with the children

The Director discussing with children rights school club members at Rutooma Primary School

RE: TWO DAYS RESIDENTIAL CREATIVE SPACE MEETING FOR SEX WORKERS

KAANA FOUNDATION FOR OUTREACH PROGRAMS

CREATIVE SPACE MEETING HELD ON 06^TH to 08 Jan, 2011 FOR SEX WORKERS FROM THREE DISTRICTS   OF KAMWENGE, KASESE & KABAROLE

Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs (KAFOP) received funding from SWEAT a Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce Organisation in South Africa to hold a two days residential creative space meeting which was held at Kijaguzo Hotel in Fort Portal Municipality of Western Uganda.

Supported by SWEAT, the main aim of the creative space was to create safe space for only sex workers in the Rwenzori Region to share their experiences, talents, identify pressing issues which they think that are the real issues that are affecting them. The meeting which commenced on 06^th up to 08^th Jan 2011 was attended by 16 participants from the Districts of Kamwenge, Kasese and Kabarole. Five sex workers were invited from every District.

The Director Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs Mr. Isagara in his opening remarks welcomed the sex workers in the open space creative meeting and called upon them to unite if there are to fight for their fundamental rights; he further told them that in the course of their work should always avoid HIV/AIDS thus practicing safer sex.

The Programs officer Human rights advocacy Mr. Godfrey Bangirana said violence to sex workers must end; stigma and discrimination are among the issues that make sex workers more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in the societies. Godfrey further said that sex workers should also get involved in Governance, that when are also elected in political offices the issues that affect them would be well handled. Godfrey went on to encouraged sex workers in different Districts to form into themselves groups and do some savings. He gave an example of Sex workers from Kamwenge District who formed a saving and credit group.

SHARING EXPERIENCE AND CHALLENGE MET BY INDIVIDUAL SEX                           WORKERS.

The Human rights advocacy Officer, Godfrey explained to the participants the essence of sharing experience since they all came from different districts of the region therefore the challenges they meet vary.

On that note individual participants narrated their experience to their fellow members and the challenges faced in their course of work.

A participant from Kasese explained how she was gang raped because she was moving alone in the wee hours of the night, this was a difficult experience and encouraged her fellow members to avoid moving alone at night.

“I was moving alone at night one person approached me demanding for sex in the process of negotiating  three other men emerged from the corridor I was dragged down,  tore my pants and begun on me by numbers ,”  Margret said.( not real name), Later found out that I had been infected with Sexual transmitted diseases, as she cried.

Another sex worker from Kasese explained how she was arrested and tortured by Police Officers as they rounded up most of the sex workers in the town. It was a sad moment, that currently she is experiencing pain in the spinal code. Further said that there was also an incident when she was forced to play sex minus a condom, since the client was a muscular man as she could not resist.

That over drinking was also a problem to sex workers as one of the members went with several men and she did not know what was going on till morning and only assisted by the lodge attendant who took her for treatment the next day.  On that note advised her fellow members that taking booze while at work is very dangerous because it’s not easy to make a choice of your own.

One member condemned playing sex while in menstruation because she had sex while in menstruation and now she developed severe abdominal pains and which is persistent. This was because she had no other income to sustain her family

Most of them confessed having been raped by boda boda riders since they travel some distance from their places of work, in that respect they do not use condoms hence a risk of contracting Aids. That it was very important not to move in isolation.

All the participants were given chance to share experience as the meeting was moderated by a fellow sex worker who also took the minutes of the proceedings. The environment was so conducive that no fears were experienced amongst themselves. Most of the issues that arose were either the same or related, like being gang raped, failure to be paid for their services, being beaten by clients, false arrests by law enforcement officer, clients stealing from them or alleging that the sex workers have stolen from the clients, paying less money than what had earlier been agreed upon, jealousy among themselves, leaving in isolation from their families because of the nature of their work and being discriminated against. One member from Kamwenge narrated how a fellow sex worker died of abortion on Christmas eve because of having un wanted pregnancy and fear of her personal up keep

During the second session of the day, the participants were already mixed up as if they were known to each other before. On that note, they were able to discuss the remedies to such challenges. One of the participants advised that there are vulnerable because of failure to be innovative; that if they had additional sources of income then they would be able to overcome some of the challenges met in the course of their work. The issue brought up a heated debate, most of the sex workers talked of jealousy and hatred. The programs officer interjected and explained the essence of formation of groups and gave the example of Kamwenge group and invited one of the members from Kamwenge to give a brief about the formation of a group and the advantages thereof. It was unanimously resolved that each district forms a group such that they raise money that can benefit individuals to start a business or begin a general business which will give them chance to always meet and discuss their problems and further development. That it’s also advantageous because they can be able to defend their rights when in a group as they will have one voice and be heard.

After closure of day one the participants were guided by fellow sex workers from Kabarole to visit some entertainment centers and the report was that the experience was conducive and entertaining.

The second day session started with the evaluation of the previous day’s experience.  All the participants recited what had been discussed and called on the moderator to introduce another topic for the day. The Programs officer introduced Ms Rose Musabege, the in charge of

counseling for the organisation who was supposed to take up a topic on HIV/AIDS. In the course of discussions one of the participants confessed that she had never had the initiative to go

      for testing of HIV. In that context eleven out of sixteen participants registered   for voluntary

      testing. The exercise was later conducted at the venue of the meeting as a Laboratory technician

      was called upon to do the exercise. Photos to that effect are here with attached.

     While summing up the two days work, the participants agreed on some issues.

      That they should always move with condoms while at work

      That there is need to attain skills in computer, hair dressing and business skills so as to have additional income.

      That they should have exchange visits for purposes of sharing experience and learn from others.

      Formation of sex workers peer groups

      Undergoing training in self defence skills

      Train from themselves human rights defenders

      Periodical voluntary testing of HIV/AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases

      Reduce on the rate of taking alcohol and other drugs

      Avoid jealousy and envy among themselves

      All the participants agreed to always attend creative space meetings because it brings about harmony and learning from each other.

      That communication would be the only tool to success

      That the same meetings should be rotational in districts

Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs_ Open space meeting Photos

Many conditions have put children at risk of death and also have left them at a risk of poor healthy, malnutrition and impaired mental social and emotional development. Interventions to prevent irreversible disability are for us all to make them grow to full adult capacity.

So many children in our Region do not have the opportunity to go to school and have to work to survive which is child labour; Kids are being abused, exploited or forced to live in appalling conditions that we can barely imagine, they are victims of poverty and exploitation locked in a vicious cycle with little hope for the future. 

Kaana Foundation For Outreach Programs’ activities are geared towards the enhancement of well being of the most disadvantaged children in our Region these include:-

Education: 

The role of education in child development is so crucial because it not only equips children with skills, but it also offers them an opportunity to get out of misery and absolute poverty. We hence provide education aimed at equipping the disadvantaged children with skills in computer, tailoring, agriculture,  and other  vital skills which will enable them employ themselves in future. 

Counseling due to maltreatment:

Most forms of child maltreatment include physical abuse, neglect, or sexual abuse and exploitation. The child who is physically abused often suffers emotionally from inconsistent parenting and fear. The sexually abused child suffers from the lack of affection or supervision which leaves him/her vulnerable to the subtle advances of the perpetrator; and the neglected child becomes anxious or apathetic about a life in which basic needs aren't met. Children abused by domestic violence, poverty, hunger and wars are usually traumatized psychologically. In this case we offer counseling and soothing care so as to provide a safe place and safe relationship which helps a child to grow and develop a trusting relationship with an adult. 

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 Advocacy:

 Kaana Foundation for Outreach Programs strongly advocates for child rights, and condemn violence against children, early marriages, corporal punishments,

child labour, defilement and all forms of abuse and exploitation towards children. We consequently urge  Governments to formulate strong laws against child labour, domestic violence, defilement, child neglect as a way of protecting the rights of children.

 HIV /AIDS affected and infected Children:

Losing a parent is terrible for any child, but many children in our Region who lose parents to AIDS face unthinkable hardships. Not only have they watched their parents die, but also they are stigmatized for having been associated with HIV and AIDS whether there are in schools or in the villages .The result is that a growing number of helpless children are facing a cycle of abuse, neglect, stigmatization, malnutrition, poverty and disease have less chance of gaining an education and getting access to healthcare. Their poor conditions and vulnerability to exploitation also significantly increases their likelihood of contracting HIV themselves. Kaana Foundation for Outreach programs combats this disease and its effects through education, care, and counseling, it’s our desire to provide for such children with the support they need to survive on a daily basis, complete their education and create a better future for them.