In Uganda, non-profit group uses theatre to raise awareness about domestic abuse

FRANCE 24 English

Visit our website: http://www.france24.com  Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English  Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/France24_en

Transcript

00:00An open-air stage performance, inspired by the daily experiences of women in rural Uganda.

00:08Oreganda, a local NGO, recently launched a campaign to educate communities about domestic

00:16abuse in a country where 95% of women have experienced physical or sexual violence, according

00:22to a UN-backed study.

00:24When people are in the vicious circle of poverty, violence tends to be so rampant because these

00:32people lack basic needs of life and as a result the two have to disagree and from a disagreement

00:39just expect fights.

00:42The NGO offers discussion groups, financial support and a safe space for survivors of

00:47domestic abuse.

00:48We go to court together, we go to the local council one together, then they give these

00:54women the courage to speak up.

00:56But in the region, only a fraction of survivors actually press charges.

01:00The NGO then acts as a mediator by providing so-called reconciliation forms, an informal

01:08contract between the victim and the alleged abuser, but also a record of evidence for

01:13possible prosecution if the agreement is ever breached.

01:18One day I came back from drinking and using drugs and when I got home started beating

01:22my wife and my son.

01:24I was reprimanded for what I did and I'm better now.

01:27I know alcohol is the cause of all evil.

01:31Uganda passed a domestic violence act in 2010 in a bid to criminalise physical, sexual and

01:36emotional abuse, but its implementation has been criticised and the number of domestic

01:41related homicides has almost tripled since then.

Category

Transcript

Recommended