The Justice law and order sector, (JLOS) will tomorrow 7th of October 2016 launch the Gender Bench book to Women's access to Justice aimed at ending gender bias.
Addressing the press at the Uganda media centre, High Court Judge Justice David Batema said Uganda has got substantive laws written in a gender biased manner like the law of adultery.
Batema explains that the definition of adultery by a man is different from that of a woman and currently, a man has only one ground of providing for adultery but a woman has to provide proof. He says these are some of the issues, the book is set to explain.
In a press release written by Chief Justice Hon. Justice Bart Magunda Katureebe, who will also be the chief guest at tomorrow’s launch, the UNWOMEN has funded the research and publication of the Gender Bench Book (GBB) which is aimed at enhancing gender responsiveness of the judicial officers and help to ensure that judgements in Uganda are increasingly gender sensitive.
“We hope GBB will enhance access to justice and more so contribute to the effective implementation and enforcement of women’s rights in Uganda” the Chief Justice said.
Justice Batema also says there is need to change the attitude of judicial officers when they are going to hear gender matters. He says they must be gendered.
“This Gender bench book we are launching tomorrow is not based on gender based sexual violence - it covers all. In this Gender Bench book one will be able to pick the necessary tools to judge gender bias” Batema said.
