The Uganda Human Rights Commission in conjunction with the Human Rights Network, Uganda and other human rights civil society organizations carried out a series of advocacy activities to mark the International Human Rights Day, under the theme ‘Embrace diversity, end discrimination in Uganda.’
The campaign kicked off on Thursday 3rd December 2009 with a media briefing session at which the full programme for the week was unveiled to the public by the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, flanked by chief executive officers of partner human rights organizations. The media as a tool of information dissemination was briefed on the theme of the celebrations, objectives of the advocacy campaign and the activities to be carried out, with a view to raising their interest in the event and subsequently attaining extensive coverage by the various media stations.
In order to reinforce the publicity campaign on the theme of the year, several media channels such as radio, television and news papers were also used to air public affairs messages and to publicise advertorials on the event and on the theme of the international human rights day to various stakeholders, who among others included policy makers, government, the youth, children and the public. In addition to the messages, live talk shows were held both on radio and television in various languages. The above media channels were further reinforced with the circulation of flyers/hand bills and display of messages on outdoor banners at strategic points within Kampala.
In order to raise public awareness about the International Human Rights Day in Kampala, a peaceful public procession was held on Saturday 5th December starting at Kololo Airstrip and ending at the Kampala City Council Railway Grounds on Kampala Road. The Minister of State for Justice and Constitutional Affairs and Deputy Attorney General Hon. Fredrick Ruhindi was the Chief Walker. The procession drew participants from the various human rights organizations in the country, the youth, officials from both the Uganda Police Force and Uganda Prisons Service, other government officials, development partners and members of the public.
The Minister of State for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hon Fredrick Ruhindi also launched the Human Rights Exhibition at the Kampala City Council Railway Grounds on Saturday 5th December 2009 after the peaceful procession, as another activity lined up to mark the International Human Rights Day. The Human Rights Exhibition which drew a cross section of human rights organizations presented an opportunity for them to show- case their work and/or publications to the public. Organizations were able to display their materials in stalls and have a one-on-one experience with members of the public who visited the exhibition and others like the Uganda Red Cross invited members of the public to donate blood. Other organizations such as HEPs, Uganda and the Uganda Health Consumers’ Organisation (UNHCO) offered free counseling services to the public during the Human Rights Exhibition which run from Saturday 5th to Tuesday 8th December 2009.
Another activity to mark the International Human Rights Day was held at Luzira Women’s Prison on Wednesday 9th December 2009. The function which was conceived as an outreach activity intended to increase human rights awareness among the women inmates and offer an opportunity for human rights defenders to identify with the women, in fulfillment of the theme which advocates for non-discrimination, was presided over by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Kampala H.E Jeroen Verheul. A dialogue with the inmates was held during the visit and presentations on various human rights themes were made by a number of human rights activists. Also present at the function was Commissioner Joseph Etima who represented the Chairperson of the Uganda Human Rights Commission, other officials from the Netherlands Embassy, the Commissioner General of Prisons Dr. Johnson Byabashaija and other heads of civil society organizations.
A Human Rights quiz to gauge the level of human rights awareness among staff from participating human rights organizations at the Human Rights Exhibition and a competition for the best exhibitor, formed part of the highlights during the closing ceremony of the Human Rights Exhibition on Tuesday 8th December 2009. A Uganda Human Rights Commission staff, Ms. Rachel Naigaga emerged the winner of the Human Rights Quiz, while the Anti Corruption Coalition, Uganda (ACCU) was the best exhibitor.
The celebrations were crowned with a Human Rights Gala on the International Human Rights Day on Thursday 10th December 2009 held at Serena, Kampala Hotel. The function which drew a cross section of participants from government, development partners, civil society organizations, the youth, children and the media, was presided over by the Ambassador of Ireland in Kampala H.E Kevin Kelly. The networking Gala also involved presentations based on the theme of the year, by children from Kabojja Junior School. The presentations included poems, songs, dances and reading of human rights messages. The main aim was to inculcate human rights awareness among the children.
Winners of the Human Rights quiz and best exhibitor were presented with awards and/or certificates. The Gala was crowned with inspiring speeches on the theme and a reception.
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