EZT staff appeals to human rights institutions and activists to put more emphasis on the cultural rights of indigenous and minority communities

While attending a two (2) days residential training on digital and physical safety, the cultural rights officer, Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) Solomon Akugizibwe appealed to human rights institutions and human rights activists to put more emphasis on the often‘ignored’in human rights circles the promotion of cultural rights and the rights of the indigenous peoples and minorities in Uganda.

Engabu Za Tooro Cultural Officer rights, Solomon Akugizibwe at the training

“Profile communities of indigenous peoples and minorities especially in relation to the problems they face, campaign against exclusion, discrimination and violation of cultural rights of indigenous peoples and minorities” Said Akugizibwe

Akugizibwe adds “Expose violations and abuses of the cultural rights of indigenous peoples and minorities and also facilitate accessibility to legal and administrative services incase of desire for redress against violations.”

In the Rwenzori region, Western Uganda the Basongora, Batwa, Batuku and Banyabindi are some of the indigenous and minority communities who need urgent support in-terms of enhancing the promotion of their cultural rights so that they can be more empowered.

Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) which is accredited to provide advisory services to UNESCO (ICH Convention) and accredited as an observer by World Intellectual Property organization (WIPO) is already promoting the rights of some of the indigenous and minority communities through documentation of their intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding with funding from UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Fund for instance the Koogere intangible cultural heritage especially among the Basongora.

Some of the participants at the training

Another intangible cultural heritage Engabu Za Tooro (Tooro Youth Platform for Action) is promoting is Empaako Intangible cultural heritage among the Basongora, Batuku and Banyabindi indigenous and minority community in the Rwenzori Region.

Defend Defenders trainer engaging the participants 

The two days training conducted on 5^th – 6^th June, 2018 at Rwenzori International Hotel, Kasese district which attracted thirty (30) human rights activists from Western Uganda and supported by Human Rights Centre, Defend Defenders and Freedom House was aimed at equipping CSO’s and HRD’s with knowledge and skills necessary to enhance their personal and digital security.

The training was also aimed at enhancing the HRD’s knowledge and understanding of the concepts of human rights and human rights defenders and their personal and digital safety strategies and finally the training was aimed at discussing and laying practical strategies for better networking amongst HRD’s and protection and promotion of human rights and the rights of HRD’s in Uganda.