Rita Aciro

Rita Aciro
OccupationExecutive director of Uganda Women's Network
AwardsEuropean Union Human Rights Defenders Award
2021
Websitewww.uwonet.or.ug

Rita Aciro is a Ugandan human rights defender and the executive director of Uganda Women's Network (UWONET). She was the recipient of the 2021 European Union Human Rights Defenders Award.[1][2]

Background and education

Aciro attended Reparatrix Boarding School in Bugonga, Entebbe, before moving on to Kololo Secondary School.[3] She joined UWONET as an intern in 1997.[3]

Career

In 2014, activists allege that Aciro had been arrested, but government officials denied the claim while acknowledging her detention.[4] Aciro later served as the chairperson of National Election Watch, a coalition of 60 organizations that monitor elections across Uganda.[5]

Throughout her career, Aciro has worked with communities and governments in East Africa on issues concerning women's leadership, women's land rights, combating gender-based violence, women-led peacebuilding, and civic and voter education.[6][7] With over 20 years of experience, she has remained at the forefront of advocacy and campaigning for the rights of women and girls.[8] In 2021, she received the European Union Human Rights Defenders Award, which honors individuals for their contribution to women's rights and the promotion of human rights and democratic values in Uganda.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Amamukirori, Betty. "Activist Ritah Aciro wins 2021 EU human rights defenders' award". New Vision. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  2. ↑ Nakiyimba, Gloria (1 August 2021). "UWONET's Aciro scoops EU human rights defenders' award". Capital Radio. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  3. 1 2 Nantaba, Agnes (24 July 2017). "Rita Aciro: Passion for empowering women". The Independent. Uganda. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  4. ↑ "Bigirimana says leading activist was not arrested". New Vision. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  5. ↑ "Lining up exposed irregularities in NRM primaries - Election observers". The Independent. 6 September 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  6. ↑ "UWONET lobbies for GBV funding". Parliament of Uganda. 24 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
  7. ↑ "Uganda: NGO to Train Women Candidates". PeaceWomen. 3 February 2015. Archived from the original on 8 April 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Women demand permanent sexual gender based violence court to curb crimes". The Independent. 26 November 2019. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "Rita Aciro Scoops the 2021 EU Human Rights Defenders Award". NGO Forum. Archived from the original on 19 April 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
This page is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.