| dc.description.abstract | This is a research report of a study, which was carried out in Rugando Sub County, Mbarara District, in Southwestern Uganda. The study focused on the role of decentralization in the promotion and protection of women's rights in employment. This is because under decentralization women continue to be marginalized in terms of job placements and security, promotion and conditions of work. This contravenes international standards as stipulated in human rights instruments such as; the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), World Conference on Human Rights and the ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, other declarations and Uganda's domestic legal regime which provide for equal employment opportunities to all people, and protection of women's rights to work. The major objective of the study was to examine the role of decentralization in the promotion and protection of women's rights to employment. The specific objectives were as follows; to identify opportunities provided by decentralization in the promotion and protection of women's rights to employment, to identify the challenges faced in the promotion and protection of women's rights to employment, to assess the strategies being undertaken by Mbarara district administration to promote and protect women's rights to employment and lastly to examine legal structures provided by decentralization in promotion and protection of women's right to employment. Both quantitative and qualitative research techniques were used in the study and these included structured questionnaires and key informants’ interviews. The data collected were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) to generate descriptive statistics that were discussed accordingly. The study findings show that although Decentralization has provided employment opportunities to women, they still face discrimination in employment like poor remuneration, lack of allowances, not being involved in decision making due to lack of skills and inadequate qualifications. The findings of the study show that there are many challenges faced under decentralization in the promotion and protection of women rights, for example; poor salaries, sexual harassment, poor working conditions and inadequate facilities. The study also revealed that lack of knowledge on human rights and women's rights is prevalent among women, and that women are marginalized when it comes to job placement and promotion. Findings of the study also show that strategies have been undertaken to, overcome the challenges include formation of workers unions and associations and informing higher authorities and policies have assisted decentralization in the promotion and protection of women rights. With regards to legal structures provided by decentralization in the promotion and protection of women rights, the majority of the respondents believed that there is a policy to protect and promote women workers rights under decentralization through affirmative actions. The study therefore recommends human rights education and sensitization programs on human rights issues, particularly women's rights, in decentralized district and more investment in the education of the girl child in order to enable girls to acquire competitive qualifications. | en_US |
