Deputy Chief Justice Designate Dr. Flavian Zeija has launched the Justice 4Her Project, a groundbreaking initiative designed to dismantle barriers that prevent survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) from accessing justice.
With a survivor-centered approach, the project seeks to ensure that justice is not a privilege for the few but a right for all, particularly for Uganda’s most vulnerable—women and girls.
Dr. Zeija acknowledged the persistent crisis of GBV in Uganda, where many victims remain trapped in silence due to societal stigma, economic hardship, and systemic failures. The Justice 4Her Project will strengthen the capacity of courts and justice institutions to handle GBV cases more effectively, piloting in the High Court circuits of Gulu and Masaka before expanding nationwide.
Uganda’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Jane Frances Abodo, revealed alarming statistics: 70% of criminal cases her office prosecutes involve GBV. Sexual offenses such as rape and aggravated defilement dominate court dockets, while many cases remain unreported due to poor investigations, corruption, and fear of retaliation.
Dr. Kershbaumer, a key advocate for the initiative, shared a heartbreaking example—the case of 8-year-old Aminah, who was brutally defiled by her cousins, lost her uterus, and later died in 2024 due to justice system delays. “This must never happen again,” she declared, emphasizing the urgent need for speedy and corruption-free legal processes to protect Uganda’s women and children.
A Multi-Sectoral Fight Against GBV
UN Women’s Programme Specialist on Women, Peace, and Security, Natasha Butorac, highlighted the troubling rise in defilement cases, despite recent slight declines. Many survivors, she noted, are pressured into withdrawing their cases, further prolonging trauma and enabling perpetrators. Butorac commended Uganda’s judiciary and police for their efforts but stressed that GBV remains a national emergency requiring immediate action.
Outgoing Chief Registrar Sarah Langa Siu raised concerns over Uganda’s staggering 173,623-case backlog, calling for urgent reforms to speed up GBV case management. As she transitions to her new role as a High Court Judge, Langa vowed to prioritize GBV cases, ensuring that survivors receive the justice they deserve.
The Austrian Government’s support has been instrumental in funding the Justice 4Her Project, which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030—ensuring no one is left behind.
The Justice 4Her Project is not just another policy—it is a lifeline for thousands of women and girls who have been failed by the system for too long. Whether it will finally tip the scales of justice in favor of GBV survivors remains to be seen, but for now, a new hope has been ignited.
