COVID-19: The PANDEMIC of Gender - Based Violence.

In Uganda, the lifting of Covid-19 lock-down is most likely to increase the cases of gender-based violence. It is projected that the total cases would surpass 10 times the cases registered in the recent 5 years if no significant measures are put in place. COVID-19 Pandemic is continuing to pause economic and social hardships rippling into society. Small and Medium sized enterprises continue to face financial hardships making it difficult for them to be sustainable. The economy has taken onto the rule of the jungle survival for the fittest “Man eat Man”. This has caused psychological and financial discomfort on many households. The burden put on household income makes it difficult for families to attain the basic needs. In the light of emotional discomfort many families fail to agree or agree to disagree hence witnessing alarming challenges and skyrocketing levels of gender-based violence

Background

The year 2020 debuted unprecedented times of trial and hardships characterized by overwhelming levels of pessimism. The global community experienced a shocking threat and lethal biochemical wave similar to the mystical invasion of pestilence that annihilated many households at the global scene way back during the juvenile stages of the 19^th century.

One of the global interventions to respond to the outbreak of Covid-19 was to create awareness about the emergence and launching new operational standards to depopulate institutions to reduce contacts and propagation of the pandemic. Measures such as confinement of humanity and total lock-down were given precedence. This had a literal impact of stalling many economic activities. Economic and Social shutdown changed the lifestyles of the people, and escalated levels of household insecurity and lack of effective community response plan. In such a critical situation, the globe was exposed to deep economic recession though the most affected were still countries in the periphery that constantly thrive below the poverty line.

It is evident that in times of hardships and critical state, there factors that trigger behavior change in a manner that would be inhuman and repugnant in people. The outcomes of such behavior would be the onset of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence, gender inequality, gender imbalances, domestic violence, women and child abuse are interrelated terms commonly used interchangeably to reflect the injustices subjected to girls/boys and men/women. The attributes of violence are threefold; it’s indiscriminative, illegitimate and unacceptable in the norms of the society. 

The bottom line is that whether peculiarly deviant behaviors linked to Gender Based Violence are sparked off or rekindled by men, women, teens, adults, or institutions, we all have the right and discretion to condemn, and implore to stop them, with ultimate goal of restoring gender parity. Irrespective of gender we all ought to be valued, respected and dignified. We should all pride to socialize in harmony as creatures benevolently qualified to optimize peace in our households and communities. Whereas men are rarely victimized, women and girls are always the most vulnerable group. The later are at a high risk in every environment, they are sexually, physically, psychologically and economically exploited by men at home, workplace among other highly risky areas frequented by men.

The World Bank reveals that 1 in 3 women experience sexual harassment everyday across the globe; it concretely unravels that nearly 38% of the victimized cases of murder of women is by their partners. Women and girls are constantly jeopardized by men, they are raped, defiled and this is putting their health at risk. A significant fraction of the victims end up contracting HIV; conceive with unwanted pregnancies, many die whereas the rest are coerced into marriage. This state of agitation has escalated the violence against children, girls and women; you will agree with me, boys and men too are subjected to this victimisation.

The surge of teenage pregnancy and Gender Based Violence in Uganda is soaring. Political agitators, activists and local media houses continue to unfold the empirical evidence yoked with Gender Based Violence. According to NBS news bulletin of June 8^th 2020, over 60 girls from two districts of Eastern Uganda; Luuka and Kaliro are likely to miss school upon lessening the lockdown and reopening of schools. They are alleged to have conceived during Covid-19 lockdown. Unfortunately they are teens aged between 11 and 16 years. Out of more than 4,000 cases of domestic violence reported, more than 3,000 cases are against children. The Uganda police concur with the public report that some of these cases have piteously claimed lives.

Teenage pregnancy is projected to lead to more prenatal and post-natal health complications that may result into mental impairment, and other health disorders, hence increasing maternal and child mortality rates due to severe health complications before, during and after birth. This is due to lack of health care services, increased poverty levels in households, and food insecurity leading to starvation and nutritional deficiencies. In order to achieve their unlawful objectives to gain and maintain control over others, perpetrators are always tactical and strategic in their mission. They are everywhere among households, and in the community, bravely seeking to infringe on children, women and girls rights. They manipulate and exert their power unto them through perpetual intimidation, threats, isolation, humiliation, dominance, blame and denial. 

My emphasis is that scars of Gender Based Violence in Uganda have deepened during Covid-19 epoch. In just one month following the unprecedented outbreak of Covid-19, Uganda registered an estimated 1200 cases of domestic violence and Gender Based Violence. The most victimized group comprises of girls, and women. Countries in the periphery with low GDP are always victims and Uganda being implicated in the same category, lacks the capacity to respond to similar emergencies. Its contingent plans are inadequate and less significant to respond to the current emotional aura.

Covid-19 led to disruptive change of community dynamics. Services were shut down limiting access to normal support, and service provision pathways, organizational operations in various spheres were subjected to a halt. For the first time Ugandans witnessed closure of social amenities, this was a discomfort which amplified stress disorders. It is alleged that a predominant number of institutions in both the private and public sector closed due to human resource challenges, under-funding, gross maintenance costs, laying off of staff, unemployment, food insecurity, high crime rate, and restriction of nocturnal movement (curfew Covid-19 response plan) among other factors that intensified gender-based violence during this state of unrest.

The lock-down caused teenagers to be confined in communities where their perpetrators could easily identify them due to their proximity. The laxity in the rules away from school and others being their own bread winners increases their chances to be exposed to a number of risks.  The health workers diverted their attention to fighting Covid-19 contrary to dispensation of other regular and normal health services; they barely provide contraceptives such as condoms, pills and Injectables, as part of maternal health support services dispensed to mothers, and sexually active adolescents and teens. Diversion of supply chain and the cessation of service delivery result into unwanted pregnancies raising the toll to over 4,000 victims countrywide within the duration of 3 months of confinement. Therefore we believe that the Covid-19 lock-down has already put scars in many lives of children, adolescents and women. Although men and boys have been affected too but the severity has been evident in the later. Its existence pauses a high risk to many and it would subject about 1.5 million women to gender based violence, family planning challenges and post Covid-19 perennial maternal health perils.

On a sad note law enforcement agents such as the police have also been implicated in the increasing rate of gender imbalances and exploitation. Some officers were incarcerated due to over use of punitive measures self-justifying that they were legitimately enforcing itinerary operational standards and policies enacted by the legislature with approval of the state and the ministry of health as part of Covid-19 response plan. More than 50 women are reported to have been severely beaten by unprofessional security operatives. The media exposed a number of women who were never granted permission by the police to seek prenatal or post-natal healthcare services. Otherwise, they would be transported to the health facilities to seek medication as prescribed by the health personnel. Another legitimate source unveils that an expectant mother who was being transported by her husband to the health facility to give birth was intercepted by the police along the way before completing her trajectory; she later delivered from her home without any intervention from health workers. Unfortunately she endured many post-natal complications which nigh claimed her life.

Worse still, Ugandans experienced a terrifying wail in the month of MAY. Bukedde, a local media platform, during Agataliiko Nfuufu (scrutinized news) at 10pm, broadcasted bad news of two young girls including a midwife student who were pronounced dead following repetitive attempts to commit abortion. Suicidal cases are projected to increase thrice, each time lockdown is extended on a one month response plan to reduce contacts, and absorb the shocks of the pandemic.

In order to address the underlying risk factors, and in response to the current outcry of the young girls and mothers who are exposed to the pervasive gender based behaviors during Covid-19 crisis; no doubt to an extent men too have been victims of the same outcry.  SAI adheres to a number of interventions encompassed in its Community-Based Social Marketing (CBSM) and Community Advocacy Action Approach models.  Through Male Action Groups (MAGs), we digitally sensitize and create community awareness on Gender Based Violence and the need for men to adopt health living life styles for the good of their loved ones and those around them. We build the capacity of a cohort of males through adequate unique training programs. The ultimate goal is to change the attitudes and behaviors of men who instigate violence and live a reckless lifestyle in order to bring to mind dignity affirming practices required in their dwelling places.

We use fact-finding techniques to diagnose and determine the magnitude of the problem and its impact, assess and evaluate the predicted outcomes prior to decision making. Through a consensus, we pursue a populist platform, where we share and discuss the findings and the available interventions to remedy and neutralize the problem. We ensure sustainability of our public health and gender-based programs through the best contemporary community approaches. We engage boys/men in man talk discussions to create awareness for self and those around them including parenting and fatherhood. We develop a set of entrepreneurial skills through training for men/boys to start self-help income generating projects in pursuit of financial independence to sustain families. We engage men/boys to actively participate in sports and adventurous activities which allows sharing personal experiences amongst each other and modeling; in killing the idle time we break the cycle of engaging in bad habits such as alcohol and drug abuse, betting, theft among others, which translates into more productive engagements. Our program of NOEXCUSEFORVIOLENCE has created a group of Male Champions for change in communities; with the support of partners we have developed strategies to promote NOEXCUSEFORVIOLENCE campaigns within communities through the male champions as change agents. 

We also uphold our efforts to create a corporate network with the law enforcement organs such as the police and the judiciary. In order to raise awareness about domestic violence, or metamorphosis of Gender Based Violence crimes. Our Male Action Groups always share analytical views, and a scope of skills to deal with the perpetrators. We also engage the perpetrators through various counselling approaches to ensure attitude and behavior change.  We encourage the communities to report all perpetrators in their areas to our staff so that we can collaborate and support them. We work with several partners to ensure that the perpetrators are counselled, rehabilitated and supported to overcome their challenges and restore their dignity.

Each of us is an important resource and a gemstone treasure in promoting health living through the fight against gender-based violence. Regardless of our diverse social-economic backgrounds, our conviction is that we all have the capacity to intervene, and scale down the impact of Gender Based Violence in Uganda. During this Covid-19 crisis, let’s unite and unlock a web of ideas to restore the splendor and hope of the mothers of the African pearl. 

SAI believes that through Male Involvement Gender Based Violence can be History in our Communities.