The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development with support from the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) Uganda and the Global Fund has launched the SafePal app aimed at easing the confidential reporting of gender based violence and sexual abuse cases.
The app, the Ministry officials said, has been developed into a fully-fledged interactive platform to enable more young people to confidentially report Gender Based Violence cases.
The app also avails accurate information on HIV, malaria, and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights to the user.
During the launching of the app, Alain Sibenelar, the UNFPA representative to Uganda said the activity is proof of young people’s energy and creativity, an example of the constructive role that youth-led innovations can play in social change.
“It is with great pleasure that I am present in the launch of the SafePal app that will help us fight GBV in Uganda and also our constitution being in line with protection of the marginalized persons in the country,” said Hon Florence Nakiwala Kiyinji, the Minister of State for youth and children.
Emmanuel Yeka, the acting Head of IT at the Ministry of gender said that the project started in 2018.
“SafePal is an app aimed at reporting gender based violence cases and having them linked to service providers,” he added.
It should be noted that during the first month of the lockdown, police noted a significant surge in Gender Based Violence cases, with an estimated 3,280 cases reported between March 30 and April 28.
According to the Ministry of Gender, the app will be used to report Gender Based Violence cases at home, work and everywhere else and the victims will be able to have direct linkage to the help they need.