The first INSPIRE implementation Jamboree

Mr John Silco (2nd row ) ED  RIC-NET was also in attendance

The first INSPIRE implementation Jamboree: “Celebrating advances in evidence-based approaches to ending violence against children” The Jamboree took place on 24-25 June 2019 in Kampala, Uganda; Hosted by the Ugandan Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) Country Office for Uganda. The meeting aimed to take stock of how stakeholders at global, regional and national levels are making use of the INSPIRE technical package (https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/inspire/en/) to inform their interventions to end violence against children. several informative presentation that includes field experiences like:  a new development paradigm of INSPIRE accelerators; New evidence to INSPIRE the SDGs;  uptake, adaptation and scaling up of INSPIRE;   and the Here it from the Strategy and implementation expert sessions Expert like full prohibition of corporal punishment in South Africa, safe schools by raising voices from Uganda, prevention of violence against children mechanism by CRVP-F  were presented.

 New resources from different practitioners were shared including:  A school-based violence prevention handbook (https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/324930) published by the WHO was launched at the Jamboree by Hon. Janat Mukwaya, Ugandan Minister of Gender, Labour and Social Development. The handbook provides guidance for school officials and education authorities on how schools can include violence prevention in their routine activities and interaction with children, parents and the community.

 Ending corporal punishment of children: A short guide to effective law reform. https://endcorporalpunishment.org/resources/law-reform-guide/  Prohibition of corporal punishment is fundamental to child protection, and the experience of states that have achieved effective prohibition shows that legal protection supports change in attitudes and behaviour.

 An interactive global map of corporal punishment in schools is now also available at endcorporalpunishment.org/schools (https://endcorporalpunishment.org/schools/) https://endcorporalpunishment.org/wp-content/uploads/thematic/Schools-briefing-2019.pdf

DISTRICT HEADS OF DEPARTMENT TRAIN IN INSPIRE STRATEGIES

Civil servants and CBOs leaders from bunyangabu at the training

Thirty (30) heads of departments/ institutions, CSOs /CBOs leaders within the Bunyagabu District at attended  a two day training on INSPIRE package at Fort View Hotel in Fort Portal. The training was facilitated by staff from the Ministry Of Gender Labour and Social Development (MGLSD),CRVPF,RIDE AFRICA and RIC-NET. The key objective was to create awareness on the INSPIRE package as well documented and evidenced strategies for prevention of violence against children.

 

The facilitators shared knowledge on the causes and forms of violence against children(VAC), the government policies and legal frame that give guidance on VAC, details of the seven INSPIRE strategies and their indicators, the relevance of the inspire packages in the daily activities of the local government civil servants.

Bunyangabu speaker Mr. Kagobya Moses giving remarks

The speaker Mr. Kagobya Moses said that the two days spent in the training was not in vain, he had learnt a lot in regards to the seven inspire strategies. He promised to engage the knowledge and skills learnt from the training to sensitize his fellow councilors in Bunyagabu district. 

The district education officer assured   the participants that Safe spaces like green belts will be established in Bunyagabu district most especially for the students who go for discussions, Healthy and safety measures should be put in place to ensure there is a proper response and support service.

Gabriel from Yolidah said, government  have good policies which can be used to prevent violence against children but when it comes to implementation, the government institutions are weak, no action is taken when cases are reported. So he encouraged his fellow participants not to neglect what has been taught.

Participants during group discussions

Resolutions: 
Emphasize guidance and counseling to all children in and out of school.Safe spaces like green belts to be established in Bunyagabu district most especially for the students who go for discussions. To sensitize members of the community, parents and caregivers who contribute a lot to violence against children so that they can change their mind set. Inspire package information sharing to be an obligation of every participant whenever they are invited for any meeting or function .  

Healthy and safety measures to be put in place to ensure there is a proper response and support service. Participants to work together and formulate the action plan and share it with the partners or implementers of the project.

BUNYANGABU DISTRICT LEADERS IMPRESS INSPIRE STRATEGIES

RIC-NET and RIDE Africa with support from CRVP-F conducted an INSPIRE package promotion workshop at Buyangabu District headquarters. The meeting attracted 33 participants drawn from the District heads of departments: health, Education, Community development, police, Judiciary, production and secretary to council. 

 The A CAO in his closing remarks revealed that he had learnt a lot in regards to the seven inspire strategies and  promised to engage the knowledge and skills learnt from the training to sensitize other civil servants and leaders in Bunyagabu district.  So he encouraged his fellow participants not to neglect what has been taught.

  

John Silco presenting INSPIRE strategies

INSPIRE, is a set of evidence-based strategies for preventing and responding to violence against children. The INSPIRE package responds to  the growing recognition that violence against children is a global public health and human rights issue that requires urgent attention from Government, Donors, NGOs,  and local communities. 
RIDE-AFRICA and RICNET are among the NGOs promoting the INSPIRE strategies in Uganda, specifically Buyangabu District in partnership with the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD). 

The participants resolved to implement INSPIRE strategies in the District and formed a Google email and WhatsApp group to easy coordination and communication.

A CAO closing the workshop with a prayer.