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

COWAD works to ensure sexual and reproductive health and rights remain at the very
centre of development. The International Conference on Population and Development
draws a clear connection between reproductive health, human rights and sustainable
development. When sexual and reproductive health needs are not met, individuals are
deprived of the right to make crucial choices about their own bodies and futures, with a
cascading impact on their families’ welfare and future generations. And because women
bear children, and also often bear the responsibility for nurturing them, sexual and
reproductive health and rights issues cannot be separated from gender equality.
Cumulatively, the denial of these rights exacerbates poverty and gender inequality.