Events in 2015 – part I
Today’s international voices and human rights activists call for empowering women worldwide. Beatrice Lamwaka (PEN Uganda member), a writer from northern Uganda and Mariela Baeva, a former member of the European Parliament and member of PEN International Women Writers’ Committee, join activities for a project related to Two decades after the war in northern Uganda: former soldiers and abducted girls speak out.
Beatrice, upon her original idea, is building the book;
Mariela, having initiated Malala’s nomination for the 2013 Sakharov Prize Award, is contributing with a research and exchange of views related to Human Rights and #UpForSchool campaign.
Note: 2015 Year of Development – our project is contributing by considering levels of human development in a post-conflict region, existing vulnerabilities, and possible problem-solving approaches.
Location of the action: | Kampala, Gulu Municipality, Gulu and Pader municipality – Pader district (northern Uganda) |
Objectives of the action | Overall objective: To document Acholi former soldiers’ – young women and children, incl. abducted girls – experiences during the two decades of armed conflict in northern Uganda and their post-conflict challenges.Specific objectives:1) The first ever, creative 1st person narrative in Uganda – participants express themselves via the means of art (storytelling, poetry, song writing, diaries, etc.); the compilation is processed, and translated from Acholi into English.2) To fill the gap that oral tradition creates, leave traces for the generations to come, and act as a reference data related to former combatants.3) To highlight the plight of former combatants, and provoke debates on the impact of war;4) To prioritize the needs of the most marginalised youth in line with #UpForSchool call to action – brief research work. |
Target groups | Former child soldiers and formerly abducted young women and girls; South Sudan refugees in the district. |
Estimated results | 1) An anthology of survival and resilience; Documented historical legacy and cultural heritage of the Acholi community.2) Trauma healing by art and narrative exposure.3) To raise issues for discussion and debates on the impact of war.4) #UpForSchool call to action and finding ways to further assist the participants – brief research. |
Additional note: The international community will agree this year on the future targets to follow up on the work of the Millennium Development Goals as ‘Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) to eradicate poverty by 2030.