PRESS STATEMENT
28th November 2021, Gulu – Uganda: The Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI) and Partners filed 2 Public Interest Cases in March 2020 challenging the Government’s failure to provide psychosocial support and community mental health support services in primary health care facilities in Uganda for women with mental disabilities that have suffered sexual abuse. The case is still ongoing at court.
In the cases filed on the 21st day of March 2020 at the High Court of Uganda at Gulu, against Gulu Local District Government and the Attorney General of Uganda, the Applicants contend that their fundamental rights were violated when the state omitted to provide basic health services and support social supportive services including counselling, habilitation, and rehabilitation in their communities. As a result, this makes it impossible for women with mental disabilities to live independently and recover from abuses. Importantly, Gulu District Local Government has constitutional powers and authority to provide health, education, and social services for everyone, including women with mental disabilities.
The case sets out how the human rights of the applicants were and continue to be violated as a result of the Respondents’ failure to provide basic health services and social support services including counselling, habilitation, and rehabilitation in their communities, making it impossible for them and several other women living with mental disabilities to realize their full mental and physical potential. That Gulu District Local Government has constitutional delegated powers and authority from Central Government to provide health education and social services and promote primary health care in the district.
Research shows that Gulu which is a post-war area has a population with high levels of mental health issues due to the prolonged civil war. Society lacks knowledge of how to support persons with mental disabilities meaning that many are victimized, including women who report experiencing high rates of sexual violence. Families and relatives are overwhelmed and do not know how to cope with the tremendous physical and emotional demands. It is the duty of the government of Uganda to protect, promote and fulfil the right to health most especially in Gulu being a post-war area to ensure that persons with mental disabilities have access to community-based social support services at the primary health care level.
“We condemn sexual violence against women suffering mental health challenges. The government ought to treat cases of persons with disabilities with utmost urgency as they do with cases reported outside mental institutions. Failure to do so results in abuse of women’s rights and what would otherwise be ‘preferential treatment of certain categories of people. Let us ensure all human beings have access to justice when entrusted with the power to help them access justice” – Says Ms. Elizabeth Achola, a Programme Officer with the Women’s Probono Initiative (WPI).
THROUGH these cases we implore the government of Uganda to;
- To provide basic health services and social support services including counselling, habilitation, and rehabilitation in communities required by persons with mental disabilities as stated under section 28 of the Persons with Disabilities Act 2006.
- To ensure access to supportive social services specifically counselling, and rehabilitation to persons with mental disabilities.
- Create community-based programs that are responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities.
FOR MORE DETAILS, PLEASE CALL our toll free line on +256(0) 800 220645 OR write/email us at info@womenprobono.org / wpiugandaltd@gmail.com
