A petition to leaders, police and citizens

CEDOVIP in partnership with men and women who believe that rape is unjust are deeply concerned about the increasing incidences of rape, gang rape and sexual assault of women and girls on several beaches in Entebbe Municipality and Masaka district. These women and girls who are of all ages are publicly undressed, brutally raped and abandoned at these beaches under the watch of the beach management and their security. For example; Red pepper news paper of 17th February, 2013 pages 18-19 carried a story entitled “Entebbe Beach Rapists on Prowl”, Bukedde 19th February, 2013 on the front page showed how women were sexually assaulted during Mampi’s show at Resort Beach Entebbe. Earlier on 6th March 2012 (page 3) Bukedde showed the incidents during Chameleone’s show in Entebbe.

Rape is very rampant; between November 2012 and February 2013, over 50 cases of rape and defilement were reported in print media. The 2011 police crime report indicates that sexual violence (rape and defilement) are the leading sex related crimes standing at 7,690 cases.

Despite the fact that rape is a crime in the laws of Uganda and the Constitution makes it clear that every man, woman, girls and boys in Uganda have a right to dignity and safety in the public or private, the recent occurrences of rape of women and girls at the beaches are in breach of this constitutional provision. The beaches management’s inability to provide a safe environment for their clients the (women and girls) perpetuates the rape; that is why these rapists have not done it once or twice, but many times and the team of rapists is growing. One wonders whether the beach owners have taken any measures to address this crime or is it because it is happening to women clients that is the reason for being insensitive? The victims need justice and the women and girls in general need protection. For how long shall we be silent when rape is happening with impunity in public ? Remember this could happen to your wife, daughter, mother, sister or granddaughter.

Rape in public or private is a crime and we all must condemn it and stop it. We commend the media for ensuring that such abuses have been brought to light. We all have an obligation to do something to ensure that women and girls as Ugandans are safe and should enjoy their lives without being subjected to abuse and discrimination.

We, undersigned therefore, demand the following actions:
Beach owners/leisure places management should:
1. Provide security at the beaches specifically to protect women and girls from rape and take the first responsibility to inform their clients on arrival about the risk of rape as well as report such cases to police
2. Clear high bushes around their places as well as keep all places properly lit
3. Provide the first form of response to the victims by rushing them for emergency medical care at government health units
4. Explain to the public the actions taken to address their insensitivity towards rape of women and girls clients at their leisure places

POLICY MAKERS AND LEADERS

1. Make it a requirement that the owners of the business places put in place mechanisms to prevent rape from happening at their premises or risk to be closed
2. Area members of parliament and the Entebbe municipal council publicly condemn the rampant rape in these places and make your commitment to address the problem.
3. Members of parliament expeditiously retable and pass the Sexual Offences Bill to end impunity, take the example of India that has made quick changes after the rape incident of a university student in a public bus.

4. The judiciary to set up a friendly environment during proceedings for the survivors to encourage their search for justice.

POLICE SHOULD:

1. Apprehend all the men whose faces appear in the newspapers committing these crimes and get them charged before the courts of law.
2. Direct that all beach owners put security measures that will be monitored by you in place to ensure that rape does not happen at these beaches or else the beaches risk to be closed off for business since they have turned into dens for rapists.
3. CID to urgently collect the necessary evidence from the victims to ensure justice for the survivors as well as keeping the survivor safe from further violence .
4. Expeditiously handle the cases of rape reported to the police stations and also refer the victims to the health units for emergency treatment
5. Give the public a specific emergency number to call when reporting rape
6. Periodically warn the public about the danger spots of rape and heavily deploy to rid such places of potential rapists

PUBLIC /INDIVIDUALS

1. More men should speak out to condemn and disapprove of the behavior of rape that is happening to their wives, sisters, daughters and mothers
2. The general public should condemn acts of rape, defilement and any form of violence against women at all times. Do not keep silent or blame the victim, it is the rapist who has committed the crime of rape
3. Add your voices to demand that the beach management or owners put in place measures to prevent rape at their places
4. Encourage the victims to speak up and refer them to the police or places where they can be supported
5. Report any suspected rape to the police and do not accept payment from the suspect, because if you do, you will be conspiring to commit the crime of rape
6. Religious leaders speak out and condemn ungodly crimes that are being imposed on girls and women.
7. Refer the survivors of sexual violence to the nearest health facilities for emergency medical treatment such as PEP and STI treatment.

SIGNED

1) Center for Domestic Violence Prevention as Lead Petitioner
2) Raising Voices
3) Uganda Women Parliamentary Association
4) Uganda Women’s Network
5) Uganda Muslim Supreme Council
6) Akina Mama wa Africa
7) The Bahai Faith
8) The Uganda Network on Law, Ethics and HIV/AIDs.
9) FIDA – U
10) TORREWODE
11) Kamwokya Christian Caring Community
12) Action For Development (ACFODE)
13) Plan International
14) Muslim Center for Justice
15) Action Aid