During the war with the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), sexual violence against women and girls was widespread. It was used as a means of terror, but also to force them to conceive children who were intended to become future fighters. vivo documents and tracks these acts of violence, both during the war and within post-conflict society.
The majority of vivo’s clients (60 to 70% of formerly abducted girls and women) experienced sexual violence, some as early as six years old, with an average age of 15 at the time of the first assault. Many were repeatedly raped by rebels, often as part of their forced assignment as “wives.” Women also suffered other forms of gender-based violence at the hands of the LRA, including beatings or executions for cooking during menstruation or for wearing trousers.
Beyond the psychological trauma, these survivors still face long-lasting consequences today: 30% of the women and girls who were raped became pregnant in captivity, many of them giving birth without any medical assistance. In today’s post-conflict society, they suffer from stigma, struggle to explain to their children the violent circumstances of their conception, and are often denied rights to paternal land—both for themselves and their children. Many also live with chronic health issues (such as HIV), financial insecurity, and must take on the role of mother alone or live with partners who reject their stepchildren.
Sexual violence against women remains a pressing issue in northern Uganda’s post-war society, with survivors continuing to face stigma and social exclusion. vivo has established a broad network of actors providing various forms of support for survivors of gender-based violence, including legal, medical, and social assistance. Within this network, vivo is responsible for trauma-focused therapy for survivors, as well as general psychological support, family mediation, and emergency planning for women in high-risk relationships. vivo also offers anger management training for violent partners who are willing to change. Additionally, vivo trains public and private partner organizations on the psychological impact of sexual violence, helping them better support survivors.
Anett Pfeiffer
vivo Uganda
