As part of “Restoring Dignity – Religious Youth Say No to Violence Against Women” members of Religions for Peace Uganda Interfaith Youth Network will contribute to the awareness and response of religious youth to violence against women and girls by raising awareness about sexual violence against women in Uganda.

The network is currently planning a training of religious youth to educate religious youth about the problem of sexual violence against women and girls in Uganda; train religious youth on how they can advance the rights of women and girls in Uganda, educate the larger community about the issue, and work to end sexual violence against women and girls; and establish a steering committee to direct and oversee the activities that will promote gender equality and an end to violence against women and girls.

Throughout the year, the trained religious youth will return to their communities to implement the work plan, which will include educating the public about sexual violence against women and girls, mediation and counseling for victims of violence, and referral of victims to relevant institutions in the district.

Through their pilot-project, the UIYN organized an awareness workshop, as part of a Training-of-Trainers process in Bugiri district. This activity took place at Gilgal guest house and drew over 40 young religious leaders from more than five districts. These included; Iganga, Jinja, Mbale, Busia, Tororo, Bugiri.  The awareness workshop was designed to help the young religious leaders reflect on issues related to Violence Against Women and Girls, their causes and forge a way forward on addressing such challenges at various levels in their localities. As a result, the trained religious youth have thus far been speaking and reaching out to other youth in their district.

UIYN recognized the need to continue with similar workshops and further training in order to equip religious youth leaders in supporting victims and survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV), and preventing such violence. They also propose to work with the youth of that area in order to develop suitable income generating activities, which would dissuade the crutch of poverty as a justification for GBV.