December 10 marks International Human Rights Day. This year, under the theme “Human Rights, Our everyday essentials”, we seek to reaffirm the enduring relevance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and its core values; equality, justice, freedom, and dignity — reminding us that human rights remain a steadfast promise for society.

There are countless violations of human rights against girls worldwide, with gender-based violence standing as the most widespread and devastating. According to an October 2024 UNICEF report, over 370 million girls and women globally approximately 1 in 8  have experienced rape or sexual assault before the age of 18. When non-contact forms of sexual violence, including online abuse, harassment, and verbal exploitation are included, the number rises to an estimated 650 million girls and women worldwide nearly 1 in 5.

In a 2021 national survey by Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS), supported by UN Women, it was found that 95% of women and girls in Uganda had experienced physical and/or sexual violence (or both) by partners or non-partners since the age of 15 yet conviction of sexual offences stands below 2%

These statistics show that violation of human rights, especially girls’ rights is not limited to specific regions, it affects millions across different continents and contexts, cutting across socioeconomic, cultural and geographic boundaries creating barriers to good health, education, and development.

There is therefore a need to collectively advocate for policies and legislations that protect the health, safety, and rights of girls and also support survivors of these human rights violations to access care, justice, and psychosocial support.

It is very possible to have a Uganda and a world where every girl lives free from these civil, political, economic, social and cultural human rights violations.