Gender and War

Throughout the two decades of warfare in northern Uganda, women and young girls have faced unique forms of violence and exploitation. In particular, widespread rape and abuse have destroyed thousands of lives. But despite this oppression and abuse, women have been some of the most courageous and inspiring peacebuilders in northern Uganda.

The cloud of war often provides a context in which men dominate and abuse women. In northern Uganda, gender-based violence is prevalent among the 1.7 million people confined to squalid displacement camps. A 2005 UNICEF study found that at least 60% of women in the largest camp had encountered some form of sexual and domestic violence. The report identified "alcohol abuse, idleness, poverty and cultural practices such as wife inheritance" as factors causing this violence. Some young girls have been forced into prostitution because of the dire camp conditions. In addition, soldiers in the Ugandan national army (UPDF), tasked with protecting northerners, have been accused of raping young women in the camps.

Law enforcement response to gender-based violence remains grossly inadequate. Women who report violations are often subject to repeated examinations and interviews and until recently, the UPDF has simply dismissed allegations against its soldiers. As a result, most victims remain deeply mistrustful and do not report abuse. Furthermore, this abuse contributes to the high levels girls who drop out of school.

The LRA is also a mass perpetrator of gender-based violence, especially through the abduction of young girls. Thousands of girls have been taken from their homes and forced to become "wives" of LRA commanders, bearing their children. One-sixth of all girls in northern Uganda bear the scars of forced soldiering and sexual slavery. Upon leaving or escaping the rebels, many of these girls are pregnant or have young children. These "child-mothers" often face stigmatization and exclusion from communities. Comprehensive support for these girls and their children remains lacking.

Meanwhile, gender inequality also persists in subtler forms. For example, women are responsible for most of the domestic work in the camps, but have been generally excluded from local leadership positions. Additionally, women have had extremely limited representation at the recent peace negotiations, despite their involvement in grassroots peacebuilding efforts and their role as the bedrocks of community life. Women's groups have arisen to promote reconciliation, support reintegration and expand peace education. Supporting these initiatives and combating gender-based violence will be essential for lasting peace in northern Uganda.