Write an analytical paper of a policy you could have come across in the past.

It’s should show its importance i.e. is it development

Analysis of the Uganda gender policy of 2007

Introduction

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a pre-condition for sustainable
development. The Government of Uganda's first National Gender Policy (NGP) was approved in
1997. The policy provided a legitimate point of reference for addressing gender inequalities at all
levels of government and by all stakeholders.

The Constitution of Uganda of 1995 contains several provisions on the principle of

nondiscrimination and equal rights of women and men. Under Article 21, “All persons are equal
before and under the law in all spheres of political, economic, social and cultural life and in
every other respect and shall enjoy equal protection of the law... [A] person shall not be
discriminated against on the ground of sex, race, colour, ethnic origin, tribe, birth, creed or
religion, social or economic standing, political opinion or disability.”

This policy makes gender responsiveness mandatory for development practitioners. The MGSLD
provides technical guidance and back up support the policy and below is the analysis of the
policy with great emphasis on the gaps which the policy has failed to address.

Objectives of the policy

The key objectives of this policy were:-

1) To reduce gender inequalities so that all women and men, girls and boys, are able to
move out of poverty and to achieve improved and sustainable livelihoods;
2) To increase knowledge and understanding of human rights among women and men so
that they can identify violations, demand, access, seek redress and enjoy their rights;
3) To strengthen women's presence and capacities in decision making for their meaningful
participation in administrative and political processes;
 4) To address gender inequalities and ensure inclusion of gender analysis in macro-
economic policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

Policy Actors and Institution framework

The Ugandan Government

Through MGLSD the government is responsible for coordinating M&E of the UGP within the
overall monitoring systems and frameworks. The ministry acts as a catalyst to other sectors on
gender responsive monitoring. Process and output indicators are periodically designed and
reviewed within the Action Plan for the implementation of this policy.

Civil Society Community and Faith Based Organizations

These are supposed to Translate the UGP into organizational policies, programmes and
activities; Collaborate with MGLSD and local governments on matters of gender mainstreaming.
They are also supposed to advocate for gender sensitive policy formulation and legislationand
Monitor the implementation of international instruments that promote gender equality and
women's empowerment.

Private sector

This is charged with ensuring that corporate policies and practices incorporate gender equality
principles

Ensuring that essential products, supplies and services are accessible to both women and men,
especially the poor and Providing e incentives and support to women entrepreneurs ontop of
Collaborating with MGLSD and other appropriate institutions on matters of gender
mainstreaming;

What is working?
One of the major achievements of this policy has been an increased awareness on gender as a
development concern among policy makers and implementers at all levels; influencing national,
sectoral and local government programmes to address gender issues; strengthened partnerships
for the advancement of gender equality and women's empowerment and increased impetus in
gender activism.

The cross cutting nature of gender implies that the different actors/sectors have had the
responsibility to finance the gender mainstreaming interventions pertinent to their respective
sector this has been evidenced through a number of NGO’s.

There has been a clear framework for identification, implementation and coordination of
interventions designed to achieve gender equality and women's empowerment in Uganda. The
policy has been a guide to all stakeholders in planning, resource allocation, implementation and
monitoring and evaluation of programmes with a gender perspective. And hence basing on each
of the policy’s objectives below is how the policy has so far faired:-

The policy’s interventions and strategies have been in most cases derived from the situation
analysis section. Responsibility for undertaking these interventions has been majorly with the
central government ministries, departments and agencies, local governments, civil society
organisations and the private sector.

The policy has enabled citizens to demand for their rights and hence good governance which
entails respect for the rule of law, democratization, participation in decision-making,
transparency and accountability, and protection of human rights.

Since Gender equity is critical for good governance, the policy has made it possible for the
effective participation of women and men in the democratization process, leadership, decision-
making and law enforcement. Other harmful traditional practices in Uganda are prevalent,
including early and forced marriage, abduction of girls, polygamy, “widow inheritance”, “wife
sharing”, and the “brideprice” have been to some extent reduced ever since the policy was
drafted in 2007.

What is not working?

Early marriages is still a persistent problem in the country and according to the Uganda Health
and Demographic Survey (UDHS) of 2016, 49% of women between age 20 and 24 years, were
married before their 18th birthday, and 12% before their 15th birthday. More than 1 in 5 women
aged 15-49 have experienced sexual violence at some point in their life compared to men, with
less than 1 in 10 (UDHS, 2016).

Many women report they continue to struggle to find employment opportunities and some leave
their communities to find greater employment opportunities elsewhere. Traditional gender roles
that have been largely revitalized by a number of Ugandan communities influence, assert the role
of women as based in domestic responsibilities. Therefore, female employment continues to be
stigmatized within Ugandan culture. However, there have been greater initiatives to generate
women's employment around the country

Gender Based Violence is still rampant despite it hindering women’s and girls’ full enjoyment of
reproductive health rights. Victims of sexual violence need emergency contraceptive pills for any
unintended pregnancies; treatment for sexually transmitted infections including HIV; medical
attention for other injuries including mental and psychological trauma.

Despite the policy, unhealthy cultural practices in the communities that favor negative male
masculinities are still common and have not been challenged enough due to lack of political will.
These practices often accept violence such as wife battering, child marriage, FGM, and in some
cases rape as normal societal occurrences.

In a number of instances, Local government leadership has been bypassed by central government
when undertaking sensitisation and consultative meetings especially in rural communities. Both
genders have not been receiving adequate information on a number of issues, even when they
demand for the same. It’s worse for women because of the gender roles and expectations from
their communities. Meetings in rural areas are in most times organised in morning hours when
the women are supposed to be working on their gardens, yet these meetings are sometimes on
important issues such as land acquisition that women depend on for livelihoods and family
support. When men attend these meetings and access information, they rarely pass it to the
women. When women access information, they rarely act on it, because in patriarchal.
There has been a widespread uneasiness among both women and men as equality initiatives
challenged the concept of a women’s place in the home and society in general. With women
gaining more financial autonomy and power in the home, a concern and hence challenge to a
traditional gender role has caused men to feel threatened and respond with domestic violence.

The cultural practice of parents relying heavier on girls more than boys for household labor
needs causes a disparity in education of the girls .it’s common for a sharp drop in school
enrollment for females when their households are faced with financial setbacks from a lack of
rain/crop production or other economic shortfalls. This is common in the districts where
schooling is free, it showed a significant drop in the marks earned by female students during the
times of economic hardship.

What could be done?

The Policy stipulates it that all women and girls have the right to lead vibrant, dynamic lives
where they can be bold in the pursuit of their aspirations. Hence policy makers should work to
prevent and respond to gender-based violence through work with policymakers, health systems,
justice systems, social systems and humanitarian partners.

The policy also focuses on eliminating harmful practices, including Female Genital Mutilation
(FGM) and child marriage, and Policy makers should help to engage men and boys to advance
gender equality, and support survivors of GBV in humanitarian crises, where violence against
women often escalates.

The attitudes that men exhibit including; the beliefs that men should be the presumed head of
house-holds particularly in decision making; having the power to decide on incomes of the
women, limiting women freedom of movement and association; believing that they have the
right to expect sex whenever they want from their wives, girlfriends and sexual partners and that
it is acceptable to resort to violence if the women declines.

The above gender related attitudes directly affect the health and wellbeing of women and girls.
Engaging men and boys to challenge the gender dynamics can have a positive impact on the
health and well-being of women and girls.
A few studies could have been taken to assess gender sensitivity in programming by government
and some investors operating in Uganda. The results from such assessments contribute to
informing appropriate interventions to ensure that women are not excluded from participating
and shaping various sectors and hence development priorities.

In 2012, the JLOS reported that because of patriarchy and the lack of gender equality, the
majority of the poor are women; many of which are ignorant of or deprived of certain rights like
owning land. Hence due to the above sensitization and empowering women with enough
information about their rights will go a long way in reducing male dominance.

Actions taken to bridge the gender gaps and bring justice can serve as a catalyst for development,
empowering Ugandan woman to lay hold of various rights, positions and opportunities.Research
findings also indicate a decline in gender-based violence as women become key contributors in
bolstering local economies.

When targeted funds provide clean water and electricity is accessible especially in rural areas,
the reduction of daily household chores makes it more feasible to earn the monies needed for a
girl’s education. Through education and couple counseling programs within helps women to
learn assertiveness skills that help them better navigate relational choices and safe sex practices.

Recommendations

The establishment of government incentive programs (such as scholarships, educational grants

for girls) targeting communities who do not practice traditionally harmful practices like FGM in
the concerned area.

A dedicated cross-border program with neighboring countries would be required to fight the
current trend especially in traditional vices which undermine gender equality. This could entail in
particular establishing cross-border police patrols.

The policy should have clauses where among the government programs, it should grant women
financial literacy and enable them run some mild business will help them I fighting for their
rights incase hey are violated.All actors in the public and private sectors have a role to play in the
implementation of this policy.

The logic of Gender Based Violence, Asset ownership and Employment is based on gender
stereotypes linking masculinity to macho behaviour and perpetrators of violence while linking
femininity to submission and victimhood. Both formal and non-formal education are important
establishments for normative change and have the potential to address gender inequalities.

While legislation and the gender policy should be revised to insist on prevention of Gender-
Based Violence and property rights exist, the major obstacles continue to exist in the budgets,
human and institutional capacity to implement the frameworks. Emphasis should be placed on
bridging the gap between the legislation and strengthening accountability mechanisms to follow
up and evaluate the implementation of the legislation.

The conversation on gender deficiencies needs to be on-going at all levels of society for there to
be any meaningful change. Government of Uganda, together with Civil Society, religious set ups
and Development Partners should continue to deliberately involve the grass root and beneficiary
groups.
References

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The gender policy of 2007

The constitution of the republic of Uganda 1995