In Uganda, there is continued silencing, intimidation and oppression of defenders of
sexual and reproductive rights. Recognizing the realities faced by women who defend,
promote and protect women’s rights, particularly those who defend sexual rights and
reproductive rights, COWAD is working to
a) Adopt policies, strategies and measures to promote and protect women
human rights defenders
b) Develop local, national action plans and budgets to ensure that women
human rights defenders are free to exercise our right and responsibility to
promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms in keeping with
the United Nations Human Rights Declaration of 1998;
c) Take effective measures to strengthen the access of women human rights
defenders to safety and security in their homes and places of residence, their
workplaces and in the full range of public spaces where we do this work;
d) Ensure freedom of movement for women human rights defenders both within
national borders and between borders as women human rights defenders
organize on and promote and protect women’s rights;
e) Defend the rights of those women who are forced to the margins of society
and are subjected to multiple discrimination and oppressions, including
sexually active young women, women living with HIV, single women, sex
workers, refugee women, lesbian women and women who have sex with
women
f) End impunity for acts of violence and attacks on women human rights
defenders whether perpetrated by state or non-state actors

Since 2010, COWAD has identified and mentored young people from around Uganda
to advocate for local and national policies that further sexual and reproductive rights.
Because engaging in advocacy can be challenging, COWAD holds hands-on
workshops to prepare young people for negotiations with government officials. Called
Advocacy in Practice, these multi-day trainings involve deep learning and team building.
Participants develop a common language to address sexual and reproductive health
and rights, and use techniques such as role play to approach their government officials.
The Advocacy in Practice workshops are meant to empower young advocates to
enable them apply advocacy skills. Advocates then return to their communities better
equipped to lobby their local governments for policies in support of sexual and
reproductive health and rights.