Summary:

• The UK government has committed an additional £18 million to support Uganda and 69 other developing countries in combating gender-based violence (GBV). This funding, announced during the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, focuses on grassroots women’s rights organizations and marks the UK’s largest-ever contribution to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women.

The United Kingdom (UK) government has pledged an additional £18 million (approximately sh86.8 billion) in funding to aid Uganda and 69 other developing nations in addressing gender-based violence (GBV). Tina Wamala, the communications officer at the British High Commission in Kampala, released a press statement on Thursday, November 30, 2023, providing details on this commitment.

The announcement coincides with the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, an annual global campaign that commenced on November 25 under the theme “Ending Violence Against Women is Possible, but only if We Act Together, Now.” The UK’s renewed commitment during these 16 days focuses on collaborating with partners to prevent violence and empower women and girls globally.

The additional funds are designated for grassroots women’s rights organizations operating in the 70 countries actively addressing GBV in communities, with a specific emphasis on marginalized populations. This financial boost represents the UK’s largest-ever contribution to the UN Trust Fund to End Violence against Women, building on the previous nine-year partnership and support totaling £25.5 million from 2014 to 2023.

The statement outlines that the funding aims to enhance access to services such as legal aid, shelters, and healthcare for survivors, promote more effective legislation, and contribute to changing harmful attitudes and behaviors to prevent violence at its roots.

Moreover, the UK government announced the initial support under the What Works to Prevent Violence: Impact at Scale program, benefiting eight women’s rights organizations in Malawi, India, Pakistan, Somalia, Eswatini, Uganda, and Madagascar. These organizations will implement innovative, locally-led approaches to reduce violence in various settings, including homes, schools, universities, and workplaces.

Since the launch of the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative in 2012, the UK government has committed over £60 million to prevent and respond to conflict-related sexual violence globally. Despite the halfway point of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the statement acknowledges that no country is currently on track to eliminate violence against women and girls by 2030.

While recognizing the scale of the issue, the UK-funded evidence suggests that violence is preventable, with a potential 50% reduction through targeted and effective approaches. The 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey revealed that up to 22% of women aged 15 to 49 in the country had experienced some form of sexual violence, with an annual reporting rate of 13%, equivalent to over one million women being exposed to sexual violence every year in Uganda.