Youth Lead Webinar And Tweet Chat On “No More Violence” Campaign

Tuesday, 30 June, 2020

Host:- @Amref_Uganda Hash Tags:- #YouthAgainstGBVUg | #NoMoreViolence | #EndGBV

Date:- 12th June 2020 at 9:00am TWEET CHAT 12th June 2020 11am EAT

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic more and more women and girls worldwide are at risk of gender-based violence (GBV). Gender-based violence includes physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, and psychological abuse, but also economic or educational deprivation.

Globally, 1 in 3 women has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence in their lives. Due to the COVID-19 crisis more and more women and girls are at risk of gender based violence. This needs to end!

Because of the pandemic, social and protective networks like schools are disrupted. Physical distancing measures are put in place and people are encouraged to stay at home. The risk of intimate partner violence is likely to increase.

15 year old Shaline called upon adults to stop telling young people lies that create fear and intimidation into giving in to casual sex. She gave an example of how one of the young girl’s in her community was raped by a man who told her if she refused she will not go to heaven. This must stop!

AMREF HEALTH AFRICA – UGANDA OFFICE Organized a youth lead Webinar and Tweet Chat to with the main objectives to:-

1. Create awareness on the rise of GBV due to the Corona virus methodologies like the lock down, and program positioning as a leading advocate for community led and community driven solutions that respect the human rights of girls and women.

2. Drive engagement and talkability on the Amref Uganda social account using advocacy and encouraging our youth and young people to speak up against GBV.

General overview: –

We had between 752 tweets, 56 Text mention, 480 Retweets, 79 Replies, 62Links and Images, 29 Original Contributors, 2,554,868 Potential Impacts, 629,824 Potential Reach, 88 Original Tweets, 117 Contributors, 5,383.11

Followers per contributor and 4.27 Tweets per contributor, 22 Facebook and 24 Instagram as show below.

Our Start Panelists had a lot to share, gave advise and solutions.

Snapshot from the webinar – Youth voices against Gender based violence

What role can men and boys play in address Gender Based Violence during this #COVID19, how can u be involved?

Allan takes on the discussion ,responding to a previous question on why men are sidelined when it comes to coming out as victims of Gender based violence.

He said that based on evidence and reports, more cased of violence against women is reported and less cases where men are abused and it’s a way of maintain the patriarchy of men

Allan noted that the reason why men are engaged more is because they are the biggest perpetrators of violence. So, his organization targets men in order to protect women. He said that they do this through putting emphasis on the act that men ought to acknowledge who they are. Through avenues such as money, power and influence. Most men have misdirected these avenues to cause violence. He also noted that men need to understand the roles of women at work, at home and at places of entertainment.

During the pandemic and lock down, his organization has been reaching out to me to take on chores at home and they have been able to understand how much women do at home and they now value the role of women. He highlighted lessons men have learnt such as the amount of work women do at home, taking care of children is very tasking, and also men appreciating the role and rights of women in places of entertainment.

Allan noted that men have realized that they have actually not been in relationships and level of communication and been so low and men have not been able to go out of the home to vent their anger but have had to stay at home and talk it through with their partners.

Question to the audience

How has the government failed in provision of youth friendly SRHR services and how can it be changed?

Reactions and comments from the Webinar participants.

Health centers do not offer SRHR services at the grass roots and people are not willing to volunteer. Train other youths in villages – youth corners in all languages to reach out to fellow peers
Government has failed because these services are actually not provided in rural areas
The govt has failed to put up such youth friendly corners in their different govt hospitals where by u find that young people are now accessing Art healthy facilities to only acquire such services
The Government has failed in coming out with a clear stand on the standard SRHR services that should be provided at all service points. You will find that some are there while others are not.
Also, most services are being provided by NGOs with a passion for SRHR. Government needs to own up these services and equip the youth corners or centers with capacity to provide these services.
Rural facilities are available and young people have been sensitized enough about SRHR
Youths are not involved in Policy making and there is still fear of speaking up on SRHR issues
The government needs to passionately and consistently advertise YFS centers available in order to get rid of social stigma
Government has invested in YFS, currently it is mandatory to have Youth corners at HC1, HC2.
Government has failed as regards friendly