Gender Based Violence: Minister wants CCTV cameras installed in homes, offices

The Minister for the Presidency, Peace Mutuuzo has observed that many times, victims of gender-based violence have been denied justice because of the absence of evidence to pin the perpetrators.

She suggested that cameras should be installed in homes, offices and public to fight gender based violence.

Her remarks were made during the launch of the 16 days of activism against Gender-Based Violence, this year.

Uganda Women’s Network is running a campaign under the theme; ShiftTheBlame in a bid to stop gender based violence.

"We desire to have cameras in public places, homes and offices for evidence based information because this is evidence that you will not be able to dispute,"she said.

She said that the situation has worsened by the slow justice system whre cases take long to be heard.

She said that there have been a number of cases of girls and women being sexually harassed in offices,homes and public places.

"To be a able to get a job some of them (women) have to a pay a price not in monetary terms but by having sex with the bosess, a practice that must be fought,"she said.

Faridah Kibowa, the chairperson National Women's Council said :"For us we are saying that let us target the homes because charity begins at home. Those people who misbehave in the places of work are the same people who go back home and do the same," she said.

Rita Aciro, executive director of UWONET highlighted the magnitude of gender-based violence in Uganda revealing that 56% of Ugandan women and girls have experienced physical assault while 28% have experienced sexual violence.

Aciro also revealed that child marriage remains prevalent in several parts of Uganda standing at 52% in Karamoja and 40% in Busoga according to Uganda Bureau of Statistics Population Census 2012.