WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY: UGANDA

"Most women, however, have tried to remain with their families and used their roles as caregivers to support peace in their homes nd communities. Over time many have joined efforts to promote peace. One approach has been to appeal to the fighting forces to use peaceful means to resolve their differences and encourage the rebels to come back home [...] They have tried to persuade individual fighters to drop their arms and return to their communities while encouraging the government to change its policy to promote peace [...] In 1989 the Gulu District Womenís Development Committee mobilised other women in a peaceful demonstration at a time when no other groups dared to speak out about the war [...] In addition to peacebuilding at the community level, Acholi women have played a direct role in efforts to find a negociated settlement to the conflict."

Rosalba Oywa, acting Programme Director for the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD), Gulu

“Our peace mission is hinged to development. Our programmes include teaching the women how to prepare safe water, immunising their children, adult literacy campaigns, agro-forestry and sensitising the communities about HIV/AIDS. We are also training traditional birth attendants […]When we meet for adult literacy lessons or tailoring the importance of peace is emphasised. More and more women are being encouraged to pass on the peace message to their husbands […]We are concerned about the suffering of our people. There is a lot of domestic violence, cattle rustling and tribal conflict. Children are sent out to look after cows at a tender age. These all affect women and children the most and we have to join hands to end it.”

Grace Loumo, Coordinator of Kaabong Women's Group Organisation (KAWOGO). October 2003