On 14th February 2020, the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) and the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) signed a 4 year agreement to implement the Joint Advocacy for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in Uganda (JAS Programme). The aim of this programme is to build a progressive Sexual Reproductive Health Rights advocacy movement in Uganda.
This programme aims at addressing a range of issues surrounding the current advocacy efforts around SRHRs. Some of the notable issues include: the retrogression in policy development in SRHRs; disjoined CSOs working on SRHR; limited appreciation of the broader context of issues on SRHR amongst key stakeholders ; the invisible powers opposing the progressive realization of SRHRs in Uganda; limited evidence to advocate for the realization of SRHR in Uganda; negative social, cultural and religious norms; and the archaic legislation impacting on the realization of SRHR in Uganda. This programme will provide an opportunity to work on both visible (non-controversial and safer issues) and invisible issues (hidden and contested issues).
The JAS Programme will be anchored at CEHURD as the hosting Secretariat working with partner institutions comprised of seasoned organizations working under Seven(7) thematic areas including; HIV/AIDS; LGBTIQ; Young People; Sex Work; Abortion Rights; Refugees; Women and Gender and; Access to Medicines and Commodities.