Swedish support to democracy and human rights aims at strengthening people’s rights, voice, and opportunities to influence decision-making in areas important for their lives.  The support aims to improve conditions for a peaceful society, as well as strengthening legal rights and improved access to justice, and also to support duty-bearers to live up to their commitments and obligations as laid down in Ugandan law and through international conventions.

For example, Sweden is providing funding to UN-agencies in the country, specialising on human rights, such as the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR) and UN Women. Further, our support to the International Development Law Organization (IDLO) helps to streamline and strengthen both formal and informal referral pathways to justice and social accountability mechanisms that enable the public to fulfil their rights and the duty bearers to meet their obligations.

Together with six other donors, Sweden also provides funding to the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), that supports about 70-80 cooperation partners throughout the country, mostly civil society but also some state institutions.

The activities of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) contribute to the following objectives:

Human rights, democracy, the rule of law and gender equality

• Improved conditions for women, men, girls and boys to influence political processes, demand accountability and enjoy their human rights
• Improved conditions for a peaceful society, strengthened legal rights and improved access to justice
• Strengthened capacity to prevent gender-based violence and discrimination against women and girls