The SSA has affiliates all over the world - including several in Africa. Betty Nassaka, chairperson of the Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women (UHESWO), sends along this brief summary of her group's successes on campus.

"Justice has come in Uganda! The shouts of excitement and tears of joy from African transgender, lesbian, and gay Human Rights Defenders can still be felt from the court room and all around the continent. On 22 December 2008, the High Court of Uganda ruled on Victor Mukasa and Oyoo's case, declaring that Ugandan constitutional rights apply to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT/Kuchu) people regardless of whether they are homosexual or transgender.

IHEU is sponsoring a conference that will bring together African Humanists from the East African Region. At least six African countries will be represented. Humanists from other continents are also planning to attend.

The Ugandan Humanists (UHASSO) have developed a range of projects to benefit local communities – each a demonstration of Humanism in action.

Betty Nassaka is the founder president of the Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women (UHESWO) which is affiliated to IHEU member organization UHASSO. In this personal account she writes about how she developed a critical and independent mind in a country where religion and tradition dominate and rarely give women the opportunity to grow.

Illegal

Prostitution in Uganda is illegal. Since 2004, it has been discussed by parliament whether sex workers should have a legal status and whether their earnings should be taxed. Most members of parliament say that the prostitutes’ ‘immoral earnings’ are a shame in a nation whose motto is “For God and my country”. In this context, sex workers’ rights are not respected in Uganda and they have no one to defend them when they need support.

Betty Nassaka is one of the founders of the women's Humanist organization in Uganda. This personal story tells how she developed her critical and independent mind in a country where women are not treated equally due to many religious and traditional practices.

I grew up in a family that worships both God and gods. My stepfather, who was a traditional healer, would go to church with my mother on Sundays (my father was killed during the liberation war). My parents were so rude to me that whenever I would ask any of them a question, I was answered with a question.

The Ugandan Humanist Effort to Save Women (UHESWO) was inaugurated by the former president of IHEU Levi Fragell and IHEU’s International Director Babu Gogineni on 17th June, 2006 in Kampala, Uganda.

On that day, UHESWO members focussed on Violation of Women’s Rights in Uganda. The speakers looked at how women’s rights are abused by governments, cultures and religions.

VIOLATION OF RIGHTS AT WORK

Segregation in Occupation

Though the country is trying to promote and empower women, the gap is still wide when it comes to job opportunities e.g. the recent appointment of ministers in government: out of sixty nine ministers only fourteen are women which is 20% women representation. In 2003, Uganda ratified ILO convention No. 100 of 1951 on equal remuneration for men and women for work of equal value and also Convention III of 1958 which promotes equality of opportunity and treatment in employment and occupation, as a means to eliminate all discrimination. But when it comes to implementation the problem remains.

After a 10-year campaign by members of IHEU member organization UHASSO, the Ugandan goverment has banned corporal punishment in all schools in the country.

Deo Ssekitooleko of UHASSO writes: "We are happy to report that Uganda's ministry of education has officially banned the use of violence to punish Ugandan school-going children. Ten years ago, UHASSO pioneer members started a project to campaign against such forms of punishment in schools, through seminars in Teachers' colleges. Common sense finally seems to have prevailed and the government has made an important step forward in the protection of human dignity."