Timothy Mbene Masereka spoke at the UN Population Fund about gender-based violence. This was during the 16 Days Of Activism against Gender-based Violence, held from 25th November to 10th December, in the spirit of protecting human rights by the UN in some of the underdeveloped countries of the world.

Being an advocate for a few years, Masereka moves from door to door in some of the remotest Kasese districts in western Uganda. Being a health activist, he contributes to creating awareness regarding diseases like pneumonia and malaria. In particular, what should one do in these remote locations to protect themselves and their families?

 The Gender-Based Violence Angle 

Throughout his visit, he was able to discover a major issue in the health sector. A pioneer cause that not many talk about. This was the angle of gender-based violence. The rising violence against women and girls, in particular, is causing some of the worst health-related issues in the household.

Uganda is one such country where more than 30% of the female population reports facing violence from intimate partners. These are just the reported ones, as he mentions the discussion of cases that remain hidden from the public eye.

As he moved from house to house, he tried to explain the adversities of gender-based violence in his own language. However, somehow, he was lacking the skill to help people see the bigger picture.

That is why he approached the UN to start a total gender-based violence training support group. This support group will especially encourage men and boys from the district to participate and understand the adversities, especially when women face depleting reproductive health due to this violence.

He also attends several training programs that speak and discuss how to act against social injustice for woman and girls. This is to ensure that he becomes a better trainer for advocating against gender-based violence in his community. (Source)