ICGLR-REGIONAL TRAINING FACILITY ACTIVITIES: 2022 – 20024

1.0 Introduction:

The ICGLR Regional Training Facility (RTF) on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) in the Great Lakes Region is an organ of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) which is based in Kampala-Uganda. The mandate of the ICGLR-RTF is to train and sensitize professionals, including judicial officers, police officers, social workers, doctors and other categories of people who deal with cases of Sexual in the Great Lakes Region. This mandate is derived from the Article 6 (9) of the ICGLR Protocol on the Prevention and Suppression of Sexual Violence against Women and Children, 2006. This brief provides information on activities of ICGLR-RTF for the period 2022 –2024.

2.0 Main Achievements Registered by ICGLR-RTF in 2022

The main achievements registered by ICGLR-RTF in 2022 include:

Convened a two-day meeting in conjunction with Mukwege Foundation on Prevention of SGBV and Holistic Care for Victims/Survivors of SGBV in ICGLR in January 2022.
Developed advocacy materials which included research on implementation of the Kampala Declaration on Sexual and Gender Based Violence of 2011 focusing on holistic care for survivors, lessons learned, and an advocacy strategy for implementing the Integrated Model of addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence in 2022.
Conducted Training for 40 Officers from Uganda Prison services and Ministry of Gender on the Regional Integrated Model on combating SGBV in the Great Lakes Region (Integrated Model) in May 2022
Provided information on ICGLR legal and policy instruments during a lecture at the Police Senior Command and Staff College – Bwebajja, Uganda on September 27, 2022. PSCSC adopted ICGLR-RTF Training Modules on SGBV in its curriculum and these modules are mandatory.
Facilitation in a comprehensive training and consultation meeting of 50 religious leaders and traditional leaders in the Great Lakes Region on the ICGLR Protocol on Prevention and Suppression of SGBV against Women and Children organized by ICGLR CS and UN Women from 15-16 November 2022 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Digitalized the Integrated Model (IM) of Combating SGBV in the Great Lakes Region which provided an online learning and self-assessment platform with contents accessible and available in English, French, and Portuguese. Digitalization of the IM ensured its accessibility in ICGLR MS and beyond.
Supported affiliated trainers in five Member States of Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia to implement training using the Integrated Model in collaboration with the Ministries of Gender. In total 8 pilot trainings for 297 stakeholders were conducted; and 7 stakeholders’ workshops for 168 were convened. Good practices captured included the translation of Integrated Model in local language – Kinyarwanda in Rwanda; its use by Traditional Leaders in Zambia; and it was contextualized in training for other stakeholders such as SGBV personnel in Zambia, and Prison Services in Uganda.
Conducted training for media professionals from Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Uganda on effective communication and documentation in conjunction with COCAFEM and CARE Burundi; and positive masculinity for 20 participants from Burundi, DRC, Rwanda and Uganda in August 2022.
Made a presentation and shared information on SGBV in a Workshop on “Enhancing Integrity and Inclusivity in electoral processes in ICGLR Member States” in October 2022 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania supported by UNDP.
Facilitated in the Gender Accountability Day Meeting on increasing women in leadership, and challenges faced such as SGBV in Gitega and Bujumbura provinces-Burundi in conjunction with COCAFEM/GL and Care International Burundi in August 2022.
Conducted Stakeholder Mapping of SGBV service providers; and a Training Needs Assessment of SGBV Mechanisms and Service Providers; and participated in strategic partnership activities on SGBV with UN Women, ICGLR Regional Women’s Forum, Mukwege Foundation, FIDA-Uganda; OXFAM, Populace Foundation International, OSESG-GL; and GIZ.

3.0 Main Achievements registered by ICGLR-RTF in 2023

The main achievements registered by ICGLR-RTF in 2023 include:

3.1 Hosted a Meeting to commemorate International Women’s Day, 2023 which was attended by over 100 participants from all ICGLR Member States. This event provided space for sharing information on: “Utilizing Innovation and Technology for gender equality, prevention and response to SGBV in the Great Lakes Region.”

3.2 Conducted a training for 44 Uganda Police Officers on Human Rights Based Approach, protecting rights of vulnerable groups in Moroto, Uganda in May 2023 with the support of the British High Commission.

3.3 Provided research for a UN Women on The Gendered Impact of COVID-19 on Member States of the ICGLR with Particular attention to Issues of Protection for Women and Girls (SGBV), Access to Health, Trade, and Livelihoods.

3.4 Conducted an Impact Assessment on strengthening the prevention and response of SGBV in 3 ICGLR Member States: Democratic Republic of Congo (East), Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia, July-August 2023

3.5 Held partnership meetings held with several partners including: GIZ, OSESG-GL, UN Women, British High Commission, Lantern Rescue, Huffine Global Solutions to strengthen collaboration in prevention and response to SGBV in the ICGLR

3.6 RTF and Huffine Global Solutions (HGS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding collaborate in improving the utilization of forensic evidence such as DNA in investigation, prosecution and adjudication of SGBV cases, including research, training of criminal justice actors, and provision of equipment under a Project titled: “Capacity Building of Criminal Justice Practitioners on Collection, Preservation and Management of Forensic evidence in Investigation and Prosecution of SGBV cases in the Great Lakes Region”.

3.7 Conducted a Desk Research on the availability of DNA Laboratories in all ICGLR Member States in December, 2023.

3.8 Convened and conducted a Capacity Building Training Workshop for 54 Police Commanders of the Uganda Police Force on a Human Rights Based approach, Management of cases, and promoting rights of marginalized groups in Bushenyi – Uganda, supported by the British High Commission in November, 2023.

3.9 Convened a meeting for 60 participants from all ICGLR Member States on “Engagement of Mining Actors in promoting positive masculinity as a preventative and responsive mechanism to address SGBV in the Great Lakes region mining sector during 16 Days of Activism Campaign against SGBV of 2023. This meeting issued a Call to Action to all stakeholders to end SGBV in their respective engagements; and to implement the ICGLR legal and policy framework on SGBV.

4.0 Main Achievements registered in 2024 by ICGLR-RTF

Achievements registered in 2024 by ICGLR-RTF include:

Launch and operationalization of the Digitalized Integrated Model facilitated by GIZ for 27 Trainers, Experts from all ICGLR Member States, and Staff of RTF in February 2024.
Convened a Symposium for ICGLR-RTF Affiliated Trainers and experts to share information on interventions taken to invest in women; accelerate progress considering prevention and response to SGBV held in March to commemorate International Women’s Day.
RTF made a presentation on the legal and policy framework on Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment (SEAH) in ICGLR focused on Uganda in a workshop facilitated by Interpol Project Soteria held in Hoima – Uganda from 29^th April-3^rd May, 2024.
Review of the ICGLR-RTF Strategic Plan for the period 2022-2026 in May 2024.
Workshop for Capacity Building of Professionals working in Recovery Centers for SGBV survivors in Burundi – held in Gitega from 4^th -6^th June, 2024
Implementation of the GIZ Project for implementation of a Project titled: “Strengthening the and Response to SGBV through mainstreaming Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in the Peacebuilding and Conflict Response Initiatives of the ICGLR” for the period 1/6/2024-30/11/2025
Revamped and operationalized the ICGLR-RTF website.

5.0 Planned Activities

Scaling up Digitalization to More Effectively Prevent SGBV in the Great Lakes Region in partnership with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Rolling out training of the Integrated Model on prevention and response to SGBV in Angola, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Tanzania.
Impact assessment of the Integrated Model in the Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo noting that impact assessment has already been conducted in Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Zambia.
Training of Criminal Justice actors on use of forensic evidence in investigation, prosecution and adjudication of SGBV cases in conjunction with Huffine Global Solutions (HGS).
Partnering with OSESG-GL, UN Women, UNFPA on research and training in respect to SGBV among refugees, cross communities, and in the mining sector.
Conducting of research on implementation of the legal and policy framework on SGBV, Human Rights, Women Peace and Security in the Great Lakes Region.

Training of ICGLR Fora, Religious and Traditional Leaders, Educational Institutions and the Media on SGBV prevention and response, Human Rights, Women Peace and Security in the ICGLR.

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