Free Access | 2024-04-12

Embedding Gender Statistics in Decision Making in Uganda

Authors/Editors: Economic Policy Research Centre ,  UN Women

Abstract:

Uganda, like many countries, faces gender inequities that impede the full realization of human rights and development potential for all its citizens. While the country has made advancements in achievement of gender equality and empowerment of women and girls, gaps remain in economic participation and opportunity, and political empowerment contributing to an overall decline on the global gender gap index from 0.717 in 2020 to 0.706 in 2024.1 Gender disparities persist in various spheres of life, including education, health, employment, and political participation. Recognizing the importance of addressing these disparities, therefore Uganda is party to numerous international and regional agreements. At the global level, Uganda is party to the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) 1979; Sustainable Development Goals, The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995); The Commonwealth Plan for Action on Gender and Development. In addition, Uganda has domesticated UN Security Council Resolutions 1325 and 1820 which guide States and non-state actors to address Sexual and Gender Based Violence against women in armed conflict. The Government of Uganda has also enacted several Laws to promote children and women’s human rights at the national level and adopted the National Gender Policy in 2007 to guide all Government policies and programmes across sectors and at all levels to contribute to the elimination of existing gender inequalities. The demand for gender statistics has since increased over the years owing to these frameworks and gender mainstreaming in policies for enforcement and budget allocation for their implementation.