Human rights defenders from Kisoro, alongside stakeholders from the African Institute for Investigative Journalism (AIIJ), have urged the public to collaborate in the fight for their rights to reduce the prevalence of gender-based violence within families in Kisoro District and Uganda at large.
This appeal was made during a one-day workshop held today at Carnet Hotel in Kisoro municipality, which brought together human rights defenders and journalists. The event was funded by the African Institute for Investigative Journalism.
Abiro Mercy, Project Officer at AIIJ, urged journalists in Kisoro to unite and work closely with human rights activists to combat corruption and human rights violations. She noted that limited public cooperation is a significant cause of human rights violations in Kisoro District, emphasizing the need for unity.
John Bosco Tembo, Research Coordinator at AIIJ, disclosed that their goal is to bring together local human rights activists and Kisoro journalists to facilitate collaboration for the advancement of human rights in the district. He encouraged Kisoro media practitioners to form associations that could serve as a unifying factor for human rights activists.
Speaking to Mugisha Andrew, a human rights defender, he expressed concerns over the increasing rates of gender-based violence among men in Kisoro families, which is a leading cause of family breakups. He noted that women often assault their partners, denying men their rights to care for themselves while fulfilling their responsibilities.
Mugisha stated, “Harassment among men by their wives has forced many to stay in bars due to fear of returning home.” He called for cooperation among stakeholders to fight against gender-based violence and human rights violations.
Meanwhile, Anthony Tumwine, a senior journalism lecturer at Metropolitan International University, advised media practitioners to adhere to the journalistic code of conduct to mitigate public hostility.
