I. SUMMARY
The
Late United States President James Madison once said that, “The most popular democracies
empower their citizens to acquire information. Such well informed
citizens are easier to govern as they understand the issues at stake,”
Demystifying Human Rights (DEHURI) will in essence empower the school going
children/students and other members of the civil society to better internalize
Human Rights and civic obligations; that is to create awareness more so that
Uganda is dotted with Human Rights abuses; and learning from the abuses to
safeguard others’ rights and how to seek redress in case of abuse, this is
against the background that Human Rights are the cornerstone of human life and
without them, there can be no meaningful human existence. A One Day
Stakeholders’ Workshop on issues pertinent to Human Rights will be organized as
the basis for the innovation of a Two Hour Video Narration on ‘Understanding
Human Rights & Redress’ to be made after writing a Manuscript out of the
issues that shall be brought out by the Workshop Participants on the subject of
Human Rights and why these ought to be safeguarded and how to address abuse; at
the same time, an easy to read Booklet on ‘Exploring Human Rights’ shall be
published.
A Master
Video shall be made from the Human Rights Narration Shot; then DVDs shall be
cut to be shown to schools which will be in partnership with us. This
will be by use of a TV Screen. The innovation shall see the introduction
of School Human Rights Clubs. Copies of DVDs and the published Booklet
shall be availed for sale to those schools which will not be part of the
project, Bookshops and organizations. The project is to make partnerships
with schools (Primary & Secondary) which shall see the starting of School
Human Rights Clubs in Wakiso district such that children/students after
listening to the narration shall be expected to start the said clubs, and the
initial assignment shall be to make a write up during their school holiday
regarding their experience of Human Rights abuses in their villages. The
write – ups shall be collected from the children/students at the beginning of a
new term. We at the project office shall read through all the essays of
the children/students and the best ones shall be rewarded. A ‘Schools’
Human Rights Magazine’ shall be published to reflect on the Human Rights Abuses
Club members will have come across.
II.
BACKGROUND
1)
Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) the Constitutionally Established Body by
Act of Uganda Parliament has in the numerous reports published clearly given
the picture of Human Rights in the country. The Uganda Human Rights
Commission (UHRC), under Article 52 (1) (a) of the Constitution of Uganda,
1995, is mandated to investigate at its own initiative or on a complaint made
by any person or group of persons, against the violation of any human
right. In performance of its functions, Article 53 (1) stipulates that
the Commission shall have the powers of a Court to issue summons, to question
any person in respect of any subject matter under investigation before the
Commission, to require any person to disclose any information within his or her
knowledge relevant to any investigation and to commit persons for contempt of
its orders.
2)
It is true that the reports clearly show that Human Rights abuses are many as
reflected in the reported cases as well as findings by the Commission
itself. The Commission clearly depicts the role of the Organs of the
Government of Uganda in Human Rights abuses. It is important to note
Uganda Government’s role (NRM Party) in the abuse which is manifested in
rigging of elections; denying the right to demonstration; limiting freedom of
association; use of force to enforce Government decisions which are not
popular; which issues among others are to be addressed. The Uganda Human
Rights Commission, 10th Annual Report has information on abuses as
reflected in the tables below:
I. Comparison of Complaints and Lodgments
Registered with the Commission in 2006 and 2007 at Various Offices:-
|
Regional
Office
|
No.
of Complaints Registered in 2006
|
No.
of Lodgments Registered in 2006
|
No.
of Complaints Registered in 2007
|
No.
of Lodgments Registered in 2007
|
|
Central
|
327
|
21
|
183
|
16
|
|
Gulu
|
114
|
33
|
102
|
13
|
|
Soroti
|
255
|
31
|
262
|
00
|
|
Moroto
|
105
|
72
|
61
|
52
|
|
Jinja
|
181
|
34
|
133
|
23
|
|
Mbarara
|
144
|
618
|
99
|
447
|
|
Fort Portal
|
96
|
15
|
84
|
03
|
|
Total
|
1,222
|
824
|
924
|
554
|
II. Trends in the Nature of Complaints Registered
in 2007 and 2007:-
|
Violations
/Abuses
|
Total
2006
|
Total
2007
|
|
1. Child
Maintenance/Neglect
|
313
|
256
|
|
2.
Freedom from Torture or Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment
|
320
|
254
|
|
3. Right
to Property
|
172
|
160
|
|
4. Right
to Personal Liberty
|
141
|
147
|
|
5. Right
to Education
|
82
|
74
|
|
6. Right
to Fair Hearing & Speedy Trial
|
65
|
51
|
|
7. Right
to Life
|
49
|
28
|
|
8.
Workers’ Rights
|
48
|
27
|
|
9.
Privacy
|
2
|
4
|
|
10. Non
Discrimination
|
6
|
8
|
|
11.
Right to a Healthy and Clean Environment
|
4
|
6
|
|
12.
Freedom of Expression and Assembly
|
1
|
1
|
|
13.
Freedom of Worship
|
1
|
3
|
|
14.
Right to Shelter
|
3
|
|
|
15. Fair
Treatment in Administrative Decisions
|
|
8
|
|
16.
Right to a Family
|
1
|
|
|
17.
Right to Health
|
2
|
|
|
18.
Economic
|
4
|
|
|
19.
Others
|
18
|
37
|
|
Total
|
1,222
|
1,074
|
3)
The trends in the nature of Human Rights Violations have been consistent over
the years. Violations of Children’s Rights and the Freedom from Torture,
Cruel Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment are the highest, followed
by the Violations of the Right to Property and Liberty.
4)
Therefore there is all the evidence that Human Rights abuses are real and a
strategy which makes children/students and members of the civil society
understand Human Rights and why they are important to be upheld in society is
rightly placed. When children/students and other members of the civil
society have ample information on Human rights, they are bound to make educated
and safe choices on Human rights and a host of other vices that are a shame to
their country – Uganda.
5)
The press in Uganda both the print and electronic media constantly report cases
of Human Rights Abuses and reaction by the aggrieved parties which is either
out of ignorance of the law and or possible consequences in case of prosecution.
Against that background, it is of utmost importance to be sure that people are
educated about Human Rights and positive reaction in case of abuse.
6)
The appreciation of Human Rights lies in the ability to change people’s attitudes
and instill a culture of protection and promotion of these rights from the
individual’s standpoint.
III.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
I. To
hold a One Day Workshop of Stakeholders in Human Rights so that we can appreciate
the scope of human rights for eventual production of a Human Rights Video
Narration and a Booklet on Human Rights.
II. To
disseminate Human Rights information by use of DVDs and publish a Human Rights
Booklet for primary and secondary schools and other publics as well as enhance
the formation of School Human Rights Clubs.
III. To
follow up the Operations of School Human Rights Clubs and make a School Human
Rights Clubs’ Magazine from Club Members’ Submissions.
IV.
PROJECT ACTIVITIES
There
are 5 Activities under which the project implementation will be done.
These are:-
- Organizing of a One
day Workshop for stakeholders in Human Rights.
- Make a Manuscript
out of the Workshop Presentations.
- Get a Video
Recording and Human Rights Booklet published.
- Reach out to
sampled primary and secondary schools to show the video on DVD and the
introduction of School Human Rights Clubs while selling DVDs
and Human Rights Booklets to various publics
- Follow up work of
School Clubs formed and make Awards as well as publish a Magazine of the
School Clubs.
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