Cultural influences on violation of women’s rights in Kiboga District

Abstract

Violation of women’s rights is a worldwide occurrence and it has been noted that one in three women will be physically or sexually abused in her lifetime as stated by (U.S. Embassy In Uganda, 2017). The study was to assess cultural influences on violation of women’s rights in Kiboga District. The study targeted cultural leaders, citizens, government and non-government organizations that are key in fighting for women’s rights. The research looked into identifying cultural practices and beliefs that promote violation of women’s rights and established commonest forms of violation of women’s rights. The research examined the interventions put in place to mitigate the violation of women’s rights in Kiboga District. The researcher relied on qualitative and quantitative primary and literature review in data collection process. Qualitative data collection methods were used to enable the researcher has in-depth data about cultural practices and beliefs and violation of women’s rights in Kiboga district. The data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions and interviews of key informants and other informants. Quantitative responses were tallied into tables and graphs. The study indicates that though the government through police and local authorities, clinical officers, non-governmental organizations and religious leaders are doing their best to sensitize and fight violation of women’s rights, its levels are still high in Kiboga District. Cultural practices and beliefs are still highly practiced and valued in most families these include women being taken as properties and controlled by men due to the payment of bride price, cultural beliefs of boys being the only heir, a belief that women are meant to persevere, putting the blame of barrenness and giving birth to single sex children to the woman which appear in different forms of violation that include physical, sexual, economic and psychological. The research recommends continuous raising of awareness and also engaging the cultural leaders and put-up policies for them to reduce or put away cultural practices and beliefs that influence violation of women’s rights. There should also be clear guidelines on coordination and referral mechanisms that are necessary to support effective case management and to ensure that survivors are identified, their needs are correctly assessed, and they receive cross sectorial support. Reforming culture is key as majority of the population in Kiboga District is rural and deep rooted in culture with mainly informal education that is mainly cultural education. The study also recommends that cultural practices be modified to avoid being used as a tool for violating women’s rights.