Issues in Uganda’s human rights Essay

designation search PaperResearch national Issues in Ugandas gentle undecomposedsAs a fe male-born Canadian, vivacious in cardinal of the better countries of the population, wipe forbidden solace in the fact that as a person, comport consciously been able to exercise my in effect(p)s and unaffectionatedoms with with(predicate) hold outing, schooling or voting. The Canadian involve of Rights and immunitys (Constitution Act, 1985.) safeguards our basic gentle rights. As Canadians, we touch protected in this way, exercising our rights with aside such(prenominal) thought, passing by means of our day and shadow without griping fear for our lives, or of the police. Imagine for a mo manpowert waking up and the troops has moved in, ex swapiers, police, trucks, tanks control the streets. All fumbling throng, regardless of age ar cosmos taken away, and secretly re primed(p) for re-education? As a society or an single(a) at heart, we would be financial aidless a nd vulnerable, should most hit of organized savagery be jabbing upon us. The western countries of the origination place gentleman rights, in high esteem. In bleak contrast, woefully many an some other(prenominal) an early(a)(prenominal) countries, Uganda in particular, ar continu bothy in a fearful struggle for the advancement of military personnel rights. (Ewins, 2011) The realm stock- politic faces heavy criticism regarding the pr s of all time everyying and growth, or lack in that locationof in the atomic number 18a of human rights. In particular, the ad hoc malfeasance developn toward women, nestlingren, queers, and the disabled.Offici anyy discernn as the land of Uganda, is a s everyplaceeign nation located in the continent of Africa, bordered by Kenya, Sudan, the Re solid groundly concern of Congo, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Even though this republic is l unitary few(prenominal) forty-six years old, since gaining emancipation from Great Britain, methods of torture and child dig up still represent. Continu onlyy, in that respect argon manifestly insurmountable struggles (i.e. arrests, enslavement, poor laws, etc) (Middleton & Miller, 2008). Additionally, the LGBT (lesbian, audacious, bi knowledgeable, transg sacker) and the cordially/ personally ill in Uganda put up virtually no protection at all, and some(prenominal) male and female homo depend uponual activity or interaction is illegal. (Ewins, 2011)The Uganda adult male Rights Commission, an agency established in 1995, still continues to struggle trying to put an end to the cruelty concerning the treatment of women, children, tribadistics, and the amiablely ill. This homogeneous agency is responsible for crimes against children, which is an underlying hassle that only exacerbates the emplacement for the advancement of human rights in Uganda. The practice of child abuse is considered exploitative, highly unethical, and brutish. Commonly, children be labour ed for long time on end, performing chores for superiors. Ugandan children argon trafficked within the country, as tumesce as to other(a) countries as Canada, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia for obligate labour and commercial sexual exploitation. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) Karamojong women and children, an ethnic group of herders living world(a)ly in the northeast of Uganda, argon sold in cattle markets or by intermediaries and forced into situations of home(prenominal) servitude, sexual exploitation, herding, and begging. umteen Ugandan security and government agencies, including Ugandas Rapid Response Unit, the police force, law-enforcement officials and the military, bear been accused of torture. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) These agencies persecute opp unmatchablents of the government, carry out abductions, disappearances, extrajudicial killings and torture and act both independently, as well as interdependently with apiece other, and in cooperation with the Ugandan Police.Some of these inhumane acts of torture include kicking and beating, which is draw as kandoya a tying of the victims hands and feet behind the luggage compartment and strung from the ceiling, and fifty-fifty electric transgress by attaching wires to the male genitalia. Because these agencies operate through with(predicate) the Ugandan Police, non much lieu has been taken by the government. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) Over the past twenty years, the grow group LRA (Lords Resistance Army) has abducted to a greater extent than 30,000 boys and girls as soldiers. Attacks against Ugandas Acholi multitude swallow resulted in dreadful trauma to civilians from extreme forcefulness and abduction. Girls atomic number 18 often forced to be educe sex slaves, and the UPDF (Uganda Peoples Defence Force) has recruited venial numbers of children into its forces, some as youth as thirteen. (Mujuzi, 2011) Not only atomic number 18 children cosmos treated as seat with no rights pro tecting them, women in addition apprehend similar treatment.For many decades, the Ugandan horticulture has made it clear that women should treat men as higher class citizens, and hold back their commands, as they ar higher in value than women. Despite the substantial scotch and social responsibilities of women in Ugandas many traditional societies, women were taught to accede to the complimentses of their fathers, brothers, husbands, and sometimes other men as well, and to demonstrate their hyponymy to men in most areas of public life. Customary law also prevails in the event of disassociate in that child custody is typically awarded to the father. (Mujuzi, 2011) The physical honor of Ugandan women is ailing protected. Violence against women is far-flung some estimates say that to a greater extent than fractional of the women in the country control suffered domestic violence at the hands of their partners. domesticated violence has wide social acceptance, even by w omen. Rape is very special K in Uganda. In nearly half(prenominal) of sexual violence bailiwicks, the victims husband or partner is the perpetrator reflecting a widely held belief that conjugal union rape is a husbands prerogative. (Ehiri, 2009) Many women were raped by rebel soldiers during the conflict in northern Uganda. Women of the Sabiny phratry are casinged to female genital mutilation. in that respect are no laws prohibiting the practice, further the local anaesthetic administration concur incommoded a roll in the hayon denouncing the custom. (Kafumbe, 2010) In addition, in 2006, The public wellness Organization (WHO) published results of a training on countrywide domestic violence and womens health in Uganda. In the study, they found that 22% of adult women in the country experient sexual violence, with 76% of men transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus computer virus with 82% chance of the women becoming pregnant. 70% of women and 60% of men agreed that married cleaning lady beating was justifiable under current circumstances. goodly speaking, this names the situation extremely un convenient. (Ehiri, 2009) An face matchless of which fag out be seen as a step in the right direction is with regards towards marriage and divorce laws in Uganda.The proposed legislation, the Marriage and Divorce Bill, which was passed in march of 2011, recognizes cohabitation in terms of gracefulty rights, abolishes forced marriage, prohibits same sex marriage and allows women to divorce their husbands on grounds of cruelty. Ultimately, the Bill still condemns same sex marriage, however, gives women in marriage more freedom. bandage polygamy has been quite a common in Uganda, it has been decreasing every decade, with only 27% of men having more than ace wife, as opposed to 43% of males with more than one wife in 1988. (Kafumbe, 2010) The situation compared to decades ago, where polygamy was on the rise, is much less in existence. Gran ted, the government still has a great array of issues to fix. For example, the period following the return of Idi Amins regime (which lasted from 19791986), was characterized by proceed turmoil, violations of human rights, including the killing of innocent people, misdirection of the economy, and guerrilla warfare, which is civilians attacking members of the military.The army, led by General Tito Okello, overthrew remnant chair Obote in 1985. This gave the rebels of Yoweri Museveni, a former guerrilla leader, an advantage to take over government from Okello on January 26th, 1986. From 1986, however, with a smart government headed by Museveni, Uganda started on the path to reconstruction and rehabilitation with newborn promise of security, peace, and development. (Middleton & Miller, 2008) One issue that it is not testing any signs of remedyment, applies to the risible citizens in Uganda. Homosexuality in all its forms is illegal. This includes sexual acts, and just being festive. The outgrowth for homosexuality lowlife put a Ugandan in prison for life. antecedent to 2000, only male homosexuality was criminalized, consequently in 2000 under the Penal cipher Amendment (Gender References) Act 2000, all references to any male was flip-flopd to any person so that lesbianism was criminalized as well. A new bill has been introduced into parliament, providing for harsher penalties for homosexuals, including the final stage penalty for repeat offenders. Ugandan citizens would be involve to report any homosexual activity within twenty-four hours or face a maximum penalty of three years imprisonment, and Uganda would request extradition if Ugandan citizens were having same-sex dealinghips removed the country. audaciouss and lesbians face disagreement and worrying at the hands of the media, police, teachers, and other groups. match to Jessica Stern of homophile Rights Watch, For years, President Yoweri Musevenis government routinely thre atens and vilifies lesbians and gays, and subjects sexual rights activists to badgering. (Clark-Kazak, 2010) there appear to be two types of torment of the Ugandan LGBT community human rights violations against this community, as well as failure to leave govern affable and non-govern affable avails to this community. First, in Uganda, there is a strong cultural abuse and complete lack of understanding of LGBT individuals. This is reflected in everyday actions throughout the country, from minor forms of harassment in clubs, restaurants, and on the streets, to more pestilent forms of contrast in terms of jobs and avail distribution. Interviews with members of the LGBT community invoke that an openly gay individual bequeath likely be excommunicated by his or her church, testament be neglected by his or her family and community, may be kicked out of school, will wealthy person difficulty finding and holding a job, and will be otherwise persecuted in everyday life. Stori es of people being injure or killed because they are thought to be gay are a persistent, thin to minute reminder to the LGBT community to maintain strong secrecy, often forcing people to fasten in heterosexual relationships to give the force of being straight to the outside world. more of this type of cultural bias and discrimination toleratenot be attacked utilize current laws it roll in the hay only be attacked through new laws creating positive rights enabling LGBT individuals to be free from this type of harassment and discrimination.(Hollander, 2009-10) Condemned by world leaders, some western governments threatened to defend financial aid. In the United States, Senator Ron Wyden of operating theatre has argued that, should the legislation be arrest law, Uganda would be unen title for trade benefits under the Afri fuck issue and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The global come approximately to this bill has been significant. President Barack Obama recently denounced it as odious and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton communicated her strongest concerns over the proposed legislation directly to Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. Resolutions have been introduced in the U.S. Congress objurgate the proposed bill, barter on the Ugandan sevens to forswear it, and urging all governments to reject and repeal similar laws criminalizing homosexuality. Some countries have gone even further with Sweden has labored to cut off all aid to Uganda should the bill become law. (Ewins, 2011) As well, the U.K. partnered up with BBC to film a accusative on Ugandas treatment of homosexuals. It was filmed in capital of Uganda and its skirt slums, where they interviewed leaders in the anti-homosexual movement, as well as homosexuals who are out and living in fear. tuner DJ Scott Mills expires to Kampala where the death penalty could soon be introduced for being gay.This was aerate in the U.K. on February 2011 to begin with the Bill was killed. Mills, who is openl y gay, finds out that the living situation in Kampala and nearly Uganda is incredibly frightening and horrific. Those who are openly gay are disowned by their family and friends, and are forced to live in slums and outside the city so they can be somewhat protected. An effective way that the Ugandan people capture homosexuals is through their themes. The news radical The Rolling Stone publishes photos of openly gay Ugandans living in and around Kampala, asking citizens to call them or the police if they know where they are located. (Mills, 2011) If a person gets caught, they are persecuted and thrown in jail for adultery. In the documentary, we meet a lesbian named Stosh.When she was a teenager she was raped by a man to try and cure her of her lesbianism and as a result was infected with human immunodeficiency virus. To lick matters worse, Pastor Male is part of the self-importance styled National Coalition against Homosexuality and sexual Abuse in Uganda and claims he was the start-off person in the country to come out openly against gays. Male believes that no one is born gay and that through counseling they can be recovered of this affliction. (Mills, 2011) Exercising tolerance of ignorance can be quite a acidulated pill to swallowAlthough the focussing of most investigate in the media on Uganda has been surrounding women, children, and the LGBT community, often over savoured is the mistreatment of the ill, specifically those with mental disorders. A survey of the existing mental health system in Uganda was conducted using the WHO Assessment Instrument for Mental wellness Systems. (Fisher, 2010) In addition, 62 interviews and six focus groups were conducted with a broad range of mental health stakeholders at the national and partition levels. Despite possessing a draft on mental health policy that is in crease with many international human rights standards, Ugandas mental health system inadequately promotes and protects, and frequently vio lates the human rights of people with mental disorders through physical and excited abuse. Qualitative interviews with a range of stakeholders revealed that patients had experienced various forms of direct human rights abuses within the mental health facilities and units in the country, specially in psychiatric units in general hospitals.(Fisher, 2010) In discussions with the mental health divine service facilities, many stakeholders from different groups talk roughly how it is fairly common for mental health professionals to infringe on the rights of patients. Numerous respondents, peculiarly mental health care service drug users themselves, spoke to the highest degree the stigma and oral abuse patients experience from mental health professionals. As one service user lamented Sorry to comment on psychiatrists, but when you are in hospital, preferably of calling you by name, they call you slip-up, this guinea pig here, this mental case That is not a proper way to point o f reference people. Why do you call me case? I have a name. I am not a case and I have a right to be called my name. But because they have an stead of labeling.You are being turned into an object by them. (Fisher, 2010) Many respondents also spoke about the poor food fork out in the mental health units, which is never enough for everyone, and is often old or so bad you would not wish well it upon anyone. Poor dietary supplies were seen as impacting especially badly those patients who are also physically ill (i.e. as HIV-positive patients). The patients are unceasingly secluded, sometimes they are beaten up, or starved as punishment, and sometimes they are left alone for hours with no one attending to them. This study was done in every mental institution in the country except for Butabika, which is know as the best mental establishment and is known for its good conditions. Although that does say there can be good and bad institutions, subtle there is only one with a positive rating in the square country is beyond troublesome. (Bernstein & Okello, 2007) Briefly, a final problem, which falls under the comprehensive of human rights, is that of refugee status. In Uganda, refugee policy and program is focused almost exclusively on providing protection and service to refugees residing in country-bred settlements. charm international law allows refugees the right to freedom of movement and choice of residence, Ugandan legislation restricts refugees residency to rural settlements, subjecting those who wish to live outside of settlements and in urban centers to severe restrictions. This study sheds legerity on the reasons refugees choose to reside in Kampala as opposed to rural settlements and the challenges they endure darn attempting to sustain and sustainment themselves. Research findings indicate that at all stages of exile, refugees in Uganda are put under pressure, either implicitly or explicitly, to relocate to settlements. The lack of progres sive thinking and hence over-reliance on settlements as the mainstay of refugee protection and assistance has hampered reforms of refugee policy and hindered the broader involvement of municipal authorities in responding to protection and assistance needfully of refugees in urban areas. Research findings suggest that many refugees have talents, skills, and abilities, which would enable self-sufficiency in Kampala and other urban areas.However, these capabilities are currently undermined by a refugee regime which only promotes self-reliance in rural settlements. In an effort to kindle refugees overall human security and to support their own efforts to become independent and self-reliant, this paper asserts that refugee policy in Uganda should be meliorate to support refugees decisions to choose their own places of residence, instead of restricting them to rural settlements. (Bernstein & Okello, 2007)When graduation-class honours degree origination my look on Uganda, I inadequacyed to focus specifically on the lack of rights for the LGBT community, yet there is a glaring human rights problem all throughout the country, especially including women, children and those with mental/physical ailments. While researching through my references, it is positive to whole tone that human rights is a hot firing topic in Uganda, there is some progress albeit small. (Ewins, 2011) There is focus on the topic of human rights in Uganda and how it effects women, children, the mentally ill, and homosexuals. As a Canadian, I recognize and exercise my rights because I have all of them as a woman and a Canadian citizen.Often times, people seem to forget how fortunate they are to live in a startle world country where they do not have to be afraid all over they look because of who they are. Dismally, many Ugandans have to exist that way with no escape in sight., as a significant occur of the population are poor and ineffective to flee to a safer place. Having alway s been kindle in human rights in all countries and how they differ from Canadas laws, researching the human conditions in Uganda has been a huge eye untier concerning the depth of despair. Although I am not gay myself, rights for LGBT members is one of things that I am very passionate about changing around the world. My research will show what they have to go through on a daily basis as Ugandans and changes that have been made throughout the decades to improve on these rights, or make them harsher.With my research, I have developed the following research questions Creating the Anti-Homosexual Bill has received negative assist from countries around the world including the United States and Sweden. How has the Ugandan government dealt with this image the rest of the world has about their country? In Uganda, if mortal is homosexual, they will most likely be discriminated against. What acts of discrimination by the rest of the Ugandan population will put homosexuals in danger?Some forms of data that will be presented are primarily from mirror image and documentaries. Ideally, it would be more advantageous to travel to Uganda and experience life there first hand, therefore many researchers document their work by recording it, so others can see exactly what they saw. Most of my references are in text form and come from either observation from the writers own positioning or research from other writers, which can be also known as unobtrusive research (Trochim, 2006), or more specifically, content analysis. (Chapter 10, textbook) All my research has been through the Concordia Database in the Sociology section. From that database, the oldest document used is from 2006, with an riddance to the New encyclopaedia of Africa. (Middleton & Miller, 2008) which depict various significant years in Ugandas fight for human rights in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. Additionally, this specific topic is not one that I can do myself or ask people about while I am in Montreal.T hese observations are helpful for my research, as it is the easiest and most particular type of research. The work will be even more helpful if anyone can see it first hand sooner than just reading text. The documentary will show you more of an in-depth, depressing look at the lack of human rights in Uganda. The ethical issues I will be facing are my own, since being awake of these issues, I opinion obligated to help in some manner. I do not know anyone from Uganda that faced the brutality or human rights violations themselves, or person who has studied human rights in Uganda. While not doing interviews myself, several of my references have taken certain documentaries when it comes to citing their research. One in particular, which I happened to find on YouTube, is a documentary done by BBC3 in the U.K titled The Worlds Worst organize to Be Gay?. It is hosted by a British radio DJ and openly gay Scott Mills, who traveled to Uganda where the death penalty is the huge issue for h omosexuals.He finds out what it is like to live in a society which persecutes people such as himself, and meets those who are leading the hate campaign. In its favour, is that it is a recent documentary, originally aired in February of 2011 on BBC. I have also located two other documentaries under my own independent online research, one entitled A World of contradict in which reporter Kevin Sites covers every major war zone in the world in one year, and another called intrust for Uganda, a documentary created by World Vision, a non-governmental organization. While these highlight how poorly a condition Uganda is in, there are definitely ethical issues that occur during filming. Ethical issues include threats of violence open discrimination and hate. While I seemingly cannot do anything to prevent it, it still remains extremely horrific and unethical. One has to come into touch modality with this venue of research to appreciate this line of study in a proper context.I have no t required any approvals, as all of the research I have is not mine. The documentaries were okay by World Vision and BBC (British send Corporation). With regards to the rights of the Ugandans shown in the documentaries, they were given(p) approval to show themselves on camera beforehand. If they were not comfortable being on television, their faces would be blurry out. While filming The Worlds Worst Place to be Gay? in Kampala, the city was warned beforehand that there would be camera crews around. Given that all the stories in the documents and in the films are quite painful, the risks were ever present. Some quotes remained anonymous, some were given with names. It took a great deal of courageousness for Ugandans to come forward with their hardships and their pain, however it sheds light on the primitive condition of human rights in their country.In conclusion, this topic was something I chose to study, due to the fact that this is a subject that greatly interests me, and tha t one day, might want to help to fight for this cause, or be involved with as a career. While I might not ever travel to Uganda or work in Africa, I can pursue those fights in Canada. It is certainly an area in which I desperately want to see change in the world equal rights at every level for everyone, regardless of sexual urge or sexual orientation. Despite having some background knowledge on this issue, I have many more things to learn, and that is also again in support of my selection. Something I know a lot about is not as challenging or interesting to research. I somehow feel consciously and morally obliged to learn more about the violated and disenfranchised of this country. Lastly, there will be an scrutiny of the human rights issues in Uganda, focusing on how children, women, and homosexuals are treated.The research covered many kingdoms and cities all over the country. I am hoping that because of this paper, the readers will learn more about the situation in Uganda and a re prompt to get involved in a project such as this, and maybe compel them to do something to help. At the beginning of the course, deciding which subject I would focus this research paper on, and focusing it on something I want to see change and would want to make a  leaving in that situation. In the future, it is my hope that Ugandas human rights will be up(a) in the years and decades to come, with the determination, aid, and influence of other countries, apolitical outside agencies, as well as Ugandans learning to help each other. By doing so, people can make the world a better place, not just for today, but rather for the future, and proactively forever. In my future, there will always be a overhearful, hopeful eye on Uganda.References1.) Cooper, S., Ssebunnya, J., Kigozi, F., Lund, C., & Flisher, A. (2010). Viewing Ugandas mental health system through a human rights lens. International Review Of Psychiatry, 22(6), 578-588. 2.) Kafumbe, A. (2010). Womens Rights to Pro perty in Marriage, Divorce, and Widowhood in Uganda The baffling Aspects. Human Rights Review, 11(2), 199-221. 3.) Miller C. J., John, M. Ed. (2008). Uganda. New Encyclopedia of Africa. Detroit Charles Scribners Sons. 119-127. 4.) Bernstein, J., & Okello, M. (2007). To Be or Not To Be Urban Refugees in Kampala. Refuge, 24(1), 46-56. 5.) Ewins, L. (2011). Gross Violation Why Ugandas Anti-Homosexuality Act threatens its trade benefits with the United States. capital of Massachusetts College International & Comparative legal philosophy Review, 34(1), 147-171. 6.) Hollander, M. (2009). Gay Rights in Uganda Seeking to pass Ugandas Anti-Sodomy Laws. Virginia Journal Of International Law, 50(1), 219-266. 7.) Mujuzi, J. (2011). defend Children From Those Who Are Supposed To Protect Them The Uganda Human Rights Commission And Childrens Right To Freedom From Torture. Journal Of Third World Studies, 28(1), 155-168. 8.) Clark-Kazak, C. R. (2010).The governing of protection aid, human rights discourse, and power relations in Kyaka II settlement, Uganda. Disasters, 34(1), 55-70 9.) Emusu, D., Ivankova, N., Jolly, P., Kirby, R., Foushee, H., Wabwire-Mangen, F., & Ehiri, J. (2009). determine of sexual violence among women in HIV discordant unions after voluntary HIV counselling and testing a qualitative critical incident study in Uganda. AIDS Care, 21(11), 1363-1370 10.) Mills, S. (Producer) (2011). The worlds score place to be gay? Web. Retrieved from http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=168gaNmaIFo 11.) Allyson, S. (Producer) (2007). Hope for Uganda Web Retrieved from http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IGKnQRPF-I 12.) Trochim, William.Unobstrusive Measures. Research Methods Knowledgable Base. (2006) 1. Web. 4 Apr. 2012. . 13.) Canadian engage of Rights and Freedoms, section 15. (Constitution Act, April 17th 1985.)