MOROTO DISTRICT: The Universal Coverage in Karamoja phase II project was launched in Moroto on March 24. The project aims at delivering an integrated package of rights to achieve universal coverage in Karamoja and Northern Uganda.
The two-year project partnership between UNFPA and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) will run till December 2024, aimed at empowering women and girls to exercise their rights to Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights free from gender-based violence.
The project also aims at consolidating gains made under the project on Strengthening Capacity to Deliver an Integrated Package of Rights in Karamoja and Northern Uganda, 2019-2022. The project will deepen the interventions delivered in the first phase while incorporating emerging issues in gender-based violence prevention and response in Uganda to realize sustainable change.
In his remarks, UNFPA Deputy Representative in Uganda Mr. Daniel Alemu said the project uniquely demonstrates the indivisibility of rights and needs to follow a survivor-centered approach for those women and girls left furthest behind ensuring access to justice for all in Uganda.
“Globally and in Uganda, we need to double down our efforts to eliminate Gender-based violence. Governments, donors, civil society organizations, communities and religious and cultural institutions are galvanizing advocacy efforts and sharing innovations and knowledge to end Violence Against Women and Girls,” Mr. Alemu said.
Head of office Austrian Development Cooperation in Uganda Dr. Roswitha Kremser said the Phase II is very critical as it aims to consolidate gains made under the Phase one project on strengthening Capacity to Deliver an Integrated Package of Rights in Karamoja and Northern Uganda.
“Ending gender-based violence will not only protect girls from issues that endanger their lives and health, but it will also boost the country’s economy by putting more young people into the work force and lowering the costs of addressing the damage caused by perpetrators,” she said.
Under Phase one, Dr. Kremser said, the special court sessions realized an increase in conviction rate for SGBV cases from less than 20 percent to 74 percent, and through an improved victim-centered approach, handling of cases were strengthened. Coordination between key actors also galvanized support of cultural institutions, which are very influential in the communities to promote positive values and tackle harmful traditional practices such as FGM and early marriages, she added.
The two-year project costs 3,227,586 Euros will be co-financed at 994 percent ADC (EUR 3,030,000) and 6 per cent (EUR 181,779) UNFPA core resources.
- Written by Emmanet Nabwire
