UHOPI responds to victims of Sexual Gender Based violence during the COVID-19 Lockdown

UMBRELLA OF HOPE Initiative (UHOPI) responds to victims of Sexual Gender Based violence (SGBV) during the COVID-19 Lockdown in an emergency SGBV quick responce Shelter in Gulu District. Umbrella of Hope Initiative is implementing an Action for women Empowerment Project whose major objectives are to promote Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE) and Eliminate Violence against Women and Girls (EWAWG) in Gulu District. The project is funded by UN Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and Spot Light Initiative. The donation to Sexual Gender Based Violence victims was done in commemoration of the day of African Child. Among the materials delivered was the food and non-food items. The activity was in response to the District Gender Office that requested stakeholders and development partners to intervene and help the SGBV victims in an emergency quick response shelter located at Generation in Action, an CBO in Gulu City. The emergency Quick response shelter emerged in March 2020 during the COVID 19 lock down that left street girls unattended and hence exposing them to Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV). Similarly, many girls were raped by their own relatives and other males in their communities. The Gulu District COVID-19 task force would receive the girls from Gulu Central Police Station and hand them to Generation in Action, a Community Based Organization that is temporarily sheltered them. These girls were severally sexually abused, rejected by their own communities and left unattended. The emergency quick response shelter was part of Gulu District’s COVID-19 task force plan, to provide temporary shelter and food, rehabilitate the girls and later reintegrate them into their families. However, the reintegration process seems to take longer than anticipated, most girls were physically injured and developed complications including child pregnancies, damaged uterus that needs rigorous medical treatment. The Covid-19 District Task Force of Gulu District, supported by other development partners has been providing them food, treatment and psychosocial support. The girls have thus stayed longer in the emergency quick response shelter as the rehabilitation and the healing process requires more time. These girls range from 8-15 years old. Although at the time UHOPI visited the emergency Quick response shelter the girls were 20 in number, the influx has since increased as more cases are reported and responded to. Due to severe torture, the girls have high levels of fear and anxiety, are psychologically withdrawn and in some cases mentally unstable, they are physically maimed and worse still they remain voiceless. The devastation is far reaching that it will take them longtime to heal and may, in some cases leave long lasting overwhelming effects like loss of the uterus. Intervention into the plight of these young girls, called for a holistic approach that included psychosocial support, education, food, a safe home, economic empowerment and skills development. UHOPI has taken the initiative to provide economic empowerment and skill development and psychosocial support to these girls. UHOPI’s intervention is an effort to promote gender equality and women empowerment and to eliminate violence against women and girls.