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Uganda rejects UPR recommendations for an improved legislative environment for LGBTI persons; amendments to NGO Act

Addendum to Final Report UPR UgandaIn November 2016, Uganda was subjected to its second review under the Universal Peer Review (UPR) Mechanism. The UPR was created in 2006 and operates under the auspices of the UN Human Rights Council. The UPR creates an opportunity for the human rights records of each of the 193 UN member states to be reviewed by the other member states. During this latest review,...

HRAPF makes joint statement with ISHR at 34th Session of Human Rights Council

Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum, along with International Service for Human Rights, have made a statement at the 34th session of the Human Rights Council held in Geneva from 27 February to 24 March 2017. The organisations urge Uganda to repeal domestic laws which limit the rights of human rights defenders. ISHR HRAPF Joint Statement at 34th Session of Human Rights Council

Human Rights Council extends mandates of Special Rapporteurs on Minority Issues and Human Rights Defenders

The Human Rights Council of the United Nations has adopted resolutions on 23 March 2017 extending the mandates of the Special Rapporteurs on Minority Issues as well as Human Rights Defenders. The continued work of these Special Rapporteurs for the next three years is set to advance the rights of minority groups as well as the protection of human rights defenders on a global level. Mandate of Special Rapporteur on Situation...

Opinion: We need to open up about abortion instead of gagging discussions

The abortion question has recently made headlines with the Executive Order released by the new United States President prohibiting any aid from the US going to organisations, which provide services or even information on abortion. This is the ‘global gag-rule’ which will have devastating consequences for women and girls in lower and middle income countries across the globe, including Uganda, as funding for organisations which provide family planning services...

HRAPF releases analysis of the Human Rights Enforcement Bill, 2015

HRAPF has made an analysis of The Human Rights Enforcement Bill, 2015. The Bill was published in the Uganda Gazette on 1 October 2015 as Bill No 26 of 2015. The Bill is sponsored by the Human Rights Committee of Parliament and its main objective is to give effect to Article 50(4) of the Constitution by providing for the procedure of enforcing human rights under Chapter Four of the...

HRAPF releases third issue of the Human Rights Advocate focusing on the new NGO Act 2016

The Human Rights Advocate magazine is a legislative review and advocacy tool in favour of marginalised groups. Each issue contains deliberations from a variety of authors on a particular enactment or proposed enactment, which affects marginalised groups, all focusing on a common theme. The third issue of the Human Rights Advocate focuses on the new Non-Governmental Organisations Act, 2016 and the impact of this Act on marginalised groups in...

Section 15(6)(d) of Uganda’s Equal Opportunities Commission Act declared Unconstitutional

The Constitutional Court of Uganda delivered its judgment in the case Adrian Jjuuko v Attorney General, on 10th November 2016. The case which was filed on 5th January 2009 challenged Section 15(6)(d) of the Equal Opportunities Commission Act. The provision barred the Commission from investigating “any matter involving behavior which is considered to be immoral and socially harmful, or unacceptable by the majority of the cultural and social communities...

HRAPF launches new report on legal regulation of drug use in Uganda

On Wednesday, 26 October 2016, HRAPF released a research report on the legal regulation of drug use in Uganda. HRAPF has undertaken this detailed study on the legal and policy framework relating to PWUDs in Uganda in collaboration with the Uganda Harm Reduction Network (UHRN). The study analyses the newly enacted Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Subtances (Control) Act 2015 as well as other laws regulating drug use in Uganda...

Uganda LGBTI Violations Report 2016 released

On 29th September 2016, HRAPF together with its partners under the Consortium on Monitoring violations based on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity launched the 2016 Uganda LGBTI Violations Report 2016. The report is the third in a series of annual violations report that have been produced by HRAPF and the Consortium since 2014. This violations report is a collection of verified violations against persons on the basis of actual...

HRAPF releases research report on the use of ‘idle and disorderly’ laws in Uganda

On Thursday, 29th September 2016, HRAPF released its latest research report, which in on the impact of the enforcement of ‘Idle and disorderly’ laws on marginalised groups in Uganda. The study tracks the enforcement of section 167 and 168, which respectively criminalise ‘being idle and disorderly’ and ‘being a rogue and vagabond’ over the period of 2011 to 2015 in the Kampala metropolitan area. The study employed both quantitative...