Sexual Minorities Uganda together with some member organization have taken up the fight against IPV-Intimate Partner Violence by engaging in an online conversation on the matter. Yesterday 9th August 2017 a group of about 10 activists took to the internet in a campaign dubbed #IPVEndsWithU where they shared different stories on IPV and solutions on how to eliminate IPV.
What is IPV-Intimate Partner Violence? IPV-Intimate partner violence is domestic violence by a spouse or partner in an intimate relationship against the other spouse or partner. Intimate violence can take a number of forms including physical, verbal, emotional, economic and sexual abuse.
One of the activists also SMUG Admin Diane Sydney Bakuraira noted that some “perpetrators” of IPV do not know that they are being abusive or think some forms of IPV are okay adding that they need to be educated on the many forms of IPV. She also noted that many victims are afraid to come out and seek help due to stigma and the emotional fear of the aftermath. Freedom and Roam Uganda an LBTI organization noted that IPV does not exclude anyone despite their different sexual orientation, gender or financial background. The organization urged victims to be bold and speak out and not to allow themselves to be tortured.
While IPV could be blamed on one’s childhood; how it would be justifiable if a man beat up a woman (physical abuse); and the women were expected to financially depend on men (often leading to financial abuse), perpetrators of IPV tend to feel the need to control their partner because of low self esteem and their failure to control ones feelings, weaknesses like alcoholism and financial dependency among other issues.
Victims of IPV should know that they are not alone and that they do not deserve to be abused.
Are you or anyone you or anyone you know going through Intimate Partner Violence? Are you interested in ending IPV?
PLEASE! call this 24 Hour Intimate Partner Violence Helpline 0755979570. All calls are confidential and we guarantee immediate response. We also offer support and information to friends, family members calling on behalf of LGBTIQ people facing IPV. Our aim is to make you as an LGBTIQ person aware of your options so that you can make informed choices as regards IPV. The helpline can provide access to an interpreter for non English speaking callers.
Who can call this helpline? Anyone experiencing IPV, friends, family and acquaintances of those experiencing IPV and would like to get professional help.
#IPVEndsWithU