On March 18, UNFPA and the Austrian Embassy in Uganda through the Austrian Development Corporation (ADC) supported the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development hold a side event on the Special Sessions to Fast Track the disposal of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases in Uganda during a side event to mark the CSW 68 in New York 10 -22 March.

The focus of the CSW 68 provided an opportunity for the Government of Uganda to share her experience and good practices with the global community on measures that the Government had taken towards achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls by addressing Poverty and Strengthening Institutions and Financing with a Gender Perspective. It was attended by 62 participants and focused on the uniqueness of the approach and how it facilitates case closure and overall case management.

In her opening remarks, Hon. Dr. Peace Regis Mutuzo, Uganda’s Minister of State for Gender and Culture Affairs reiterated that the GBV Special Courts Sessions project is implemented by the Uganda justice, law and order sector, under the Kampala Declaration of 2011 to fast track the disposal of SGBV cases. With support from UNFPA and funding from donors like the Austrian Development Corporation, since 2018, Uganda has advanced over Uganda Shillings 8 billion, facilitating special sessions in 25 High Courts and 18 Magistrates Courts throughout the country and fast tracking the disposal of over 3,000 SGBV cases. Presently Uganda is the first and only country implementing the special sessions in the Great Lakes region under the Kampala Declaration which was signed by 12 countries of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).