“Happy Wife, Happy Life” “Be a Real Man” “Woman is Human”. The start of the year gathered actors committed to advancing women’s rights and social change including government representatives (Ministry of Gender Labor and Social Development, the Ministry of Health and Uganda National Police) as well as civil society (Isis-WICCE, FIDA, CEDOVIP, MIFUMI Trocaire UJCC and UMWA).

Isis-WICCE joined these actors to contribute to a strategy being defined by CDFU partnering with UN Women to reduce social tolerance and acceptance for violence against women and girls in Kampala, Moroto, Kaabong, Pader, Kitgum, Gulu and Kamuli districts of Uganda. Identifying three key messages, the group targets women and girls between 10 to 35 years and boys and men between 14 to 49 years as well as a diversity of leaders.

Happy Wife, Happy Life, while focused solely on women, stresses that violence is not a pleasant experience for a woman and does not bring happiness to a household. Be a Real Man, premised on the idea that a man’s respect should be associated with positive attitudes and actions as opposed to violent masculinity. Woman is Human, addresses the negative perceptions within communities towards women and their humanity.

The conversation continues.