{"id":2361,"date":"2026-03-02T11:24:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-02T11:24:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/amref.org\/uganda\/?p=2361"},"modified":"2026-03-02T12:12:05","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T12:12:05","slug":"speaking-out-saves-lives-community-champions-against-violence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amref.org\/uganda\/blog\/speaking-out-saves-lives-community-champions-against-violence\/","title":{"rendered":"Speaking Out Saves Lives: Community Champions Against Violence."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Photo: Women companions against Gender Based Violence in the community. Credit: E-Pictures Media <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Across nine districts in Eastern and Island Uganda, young women are raising their voices against silence. Wearing shirts that read \u201cExperiencing Violence? Speak Out Now,\u201d<\/strong> Heroes program champions are leading community dialogues, school sessions, and radio talk shows to challenge harmful norms and promote reporting of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In districts such as Kalangala and Namayingo, where adolescent pregnancy and intimate partner violence remain high, these peer champions play a critical role in linking survivors to health facilities and psychosocial support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBefore Heroes, many cases were hidden,\u201d says a district community development officer. \u201cNow survivors know there is a system that will protect them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Working through existing structures\u00a0 village health teams reach out\u00a0 to women\u00a0 at house hold level\u00a0 ensuring the get the\u00a0 basic health care information at all times. Credit: Epictures media <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Through trained Village Health Teams (VHTs), legal aid partners, and strengthened health facilities, survivors receive integrated SRHR services-post-violence care, emergency contraception, HIV testing, and counselling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cWe are not just responding to violence; we are preventing it. Social justice means shifting power back to women and girls.\u201d Heroes Field coordinator<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: Heroes Project Coordinator\u00a0listening to a young member of the skilling club during a meeting within the community. Credit: E-Pictures Media<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The program also engages men and boys as allies, addressing root causes such as harmful masculinity and economic stress. The impact is visible: increased reporting rates, improved referral response time, and stronger community accountability mechanisms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Sharing and learning together has made these young women determined to beat the odds.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

International Women\u2019s Day 2026 calls for investment in social justice. In these districts, that investment means training grassroots champions, strengthening local systems, and ensuring every girl knows her rights. Because speaking out is not just courage, it is protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo credits: E-Pictures Media<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Communications at Amref Uganda <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Photo: Women companions against Gender Based Violence in the community. Credit: E-Pictures Media Across nine districts in Eastern and Island Uganda, young women are raising their voices against silence. Wearing […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2362,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[168],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[153,376,357,791,165,786,891,370],"class_list":["post-2361","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/amref.org\/uganda\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/03\/DSC03570-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1708&ssl=1","yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n