Respect for human rights key to unlocking prosperity

Today, on Human Rights Day, we honour the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a document that celebrates and defends the equal dignity and worth of every person. The declaration lists the inalienable rights to which all human beings are entitled – regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, or other status. Today, we commemorate the world’s achievement in establishing this important covenant.

Perhaps more importantly, we also remember our collective obligation to keep fighting for every citizen of the world to enjoy the rights in practice that the declaration lays out on paper.
Today also marks the culmination of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights reminds us that women are entitled to the same rights as men, yet unfortunately in Uganda and throughout the world, women continue to suffer from unequal treatment.

According to the Uganda Bureau of Statistics, 56 per cent of married women experience spousal violence in Uganda, and one million women experienced sexual violence in 2016. The number of gender-based violence cases reported in the country continues to increase annually. Not only is gender-based violence an assault on the ideal of equal rights for all, it is also harming Uganda’s prosperity. A study by the Centre for Domestic Violence Prevention showed that gender-based violence costs Uganda Shs77.5 billion annually in lost profits and expenses!

No country can reach middle-income status if it leaves half its population out of the development equation. Supporting women’s rights starts with making sure girls have access to quality education. Lack of education and early marriage in Uganda often lead to lifelong gender disparity and insufficient opportunity. When a girl is denied access to education, it harms the development of her family, community, and country.

Supporting women’s rights also means giving them equal rights and opportunities in the workplace. In 2014, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor reported that the number of female Ugandan entrepreneurs actually outnumbered their male counterparts. This does not surprise me, as I am routinely amazed by the talent and potential of the girls and women I meet in Uganda. They just need to be given a chance, and provided support. Uganda will prosper as a result.

While respecting women’s rights is a key part of achieving prosperity, a country’s success also depends on respect for freedom of assembly and expression for all of its citizens. These are rights that are enshrined in both Uganda’s Constitution, as well as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A democracy thrives when people feel empowered. Assembling in public to show support for a common cause is a key way for citizens to feel that their voice matters and that they can make a difference in their communities and for their country.

When security forces limit freedom of assembly and expression and fire bullets and tear gas at crowds and beat up Members of Parliament, journalists, and citizens, it makes people afraid to speak their minds, and that harms both democracy and development. It chills not only the political atmosphere, but the climate for entrepreneurship, innovation, economic growth, tourism, and investment. It also flies against the Declaration of Human Rights, which states that no one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

My own country grapples with these human rights issues, just as all countries do. It is not always easy to live up to the standards established in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But if Uganda is committed to achieving the prosperity that its people deserve, then these are the standards to which it should aspire. I believe that Uganda’s single greatest resource is its people – all of them, in their strength, diversity, dignity, and potential. A strong respect for the rights of all Ugandans is the key to unlocking prosperity for Uganda’s future generations to come.

Ms Malac is the US Ambassador to Uganda.