ActionAid was awarded a certificate of recognition for promotion of Women's Rights in Nebbi during the commemoration of the Women's day in Okworo Sub-county, Padyere County.

Research has established that 80% of women in Nebbi district suffer from violence and the award is recognising the efforts ActionAid has put into assisting the traumatised and helpless women in Nebbi during the last 8 years. The latest initiative is a Women’s Centre launched in March 2009 to assist Nebbi’s suffering women.

One of the beneficiaries of ActionAid’s interventions is Obonye Joyce. She recalls:

My husband had two wives and one time because of jealousy, my husband  came back and beat me and hammered two nails into my head. This was in January 2008 and I was left helpless until the Women Won’t Wait coalition came and rescued me.

Obonye Joyce was taken to Nebbi Hospital by ActionAid where she first received emergency treatment, later physiotherapy. One year later she eats almost normally and walks with the help of a walking device. Her husband was arrested, but released again on bond, although he never paid UGX 100,000. ActionAid's legal officer and the police are following the case to make sure that the man is prosecuted.

Obonye Joyce’s case is only one example of the work ActionAid was recognized for by the award for promoting Women’s Rights. Otherwise the activities are focusing on girl child education and women’s empowerment. This include post trauma counseling, pre and post HIV testing and counseling, treatment, police services for arrest of criminals and training for basic skills on managing conflicts and gender based violence.

On the broader side, awareness on women’s rights is raised through interventions like radio talk shows, community visits and on trainings, to influence and change attitudes, practices and behaviors towards women and girls rights. The key targets are the cultural, religious leaders and men in general in community.