For the last two years, CEDOVIP has worked closely with Local Councils, opinion/cultural/traditional leaders, and religious leaders in Kampala divisions of Nakawa, and Kawempe to create urban communities free from GBV through preventing and responding to VAW. The work has inspired to take action against VAW through mobilizing community members to intervene in domestic violence incidences and ensuring that they support survivors using the Domestic Violence Act.
The opinion leaders believe that ensuring survivors’ access to justice by waiving fees charged on domestic violence cases, making necessary referrals to police, courts of law and health care workers, will ensure that cases are handled with utmost urgency and confidentially to ensure safety of the survivors.
In fact community members report that this has encouraged them to take action whenever violence happens through; making alarm whenever they hear violence, reporting those using violence to the authorities, reaching out and talking to those experiencing violence.
“My neighbours heard me crying, they called local leaders who intervened and since then my husband has changed; we discuss our differences and make decisions together. I am happy to be treated respectfully as an equal human being and to be given space to contribute productively to my family. This will not mean that i cease being a wife, mother and a loving partner.” Female community member Bwaise II- Kawempe division.
Since 2013 to date the opinion leaders have handled over 354 cases of domestic violence.