Ugandan Judge Meets with UN Women on Violence Against Women.

Kampala, Uganda – A top Ugandan judge, Justice Dr. Flavian Zeija, met with Dr. Patrick Nalere from UN Women. They talked about violence against women and girls in Uganda. UN Women is working on a new plan to help.

Justice Zeija said that old traditions and weak families are big reasons for this violence. He noted that some people still think violence in marriage is a sign of love. He also said that during COVID-19 lockdowns, many victims were hurt by their own family members.

He pointed out that many cases of violence never reach a judge. This is because people make deals outside of court, and police investigations are often not very good. When cases do go to court, they are often slow because of a lack of money and judges.

Justice Zeija said that women in rural areas often don't know their rights. He is worried that families and local leaders sometimes take bribes instead of seeking justice. He asked for more support for women in the countryside, women with disabilities, and all survivors of violence.

The judge wants UN Women to help train local leaders who are the first to hear about these cases. He also wants more special courts for violence against women. He noted that most charities help in cities, and he wants them to help more in rural areas.

Justice Zeija said it is hard to make good laws without good information. He said that judges often don't report all the cases of violence, so the government doesn't have a full picture of the problem. He also said that victims, especially children, often don't get the support they need and are sometimes scared to speak in court.