Rita Aciro is a Ugandan

human rights defender A human rights defender or human rights activist is a person who, individually or with others, acts to promote or protect human rights. They can be journalists, environmentalists, whistleblowers, trade unionists, lawyers, teachers, housing campai ...

and Executive Director for

Uganda Women's Network The Uganda Women's Network (UWONET) is a Ugandan non-governmental organization (NGO) working to advance public policy regarding women's rights. It is an umbrella organisation of national women's NGOs and individuals operating in East Africa. Th ...

(UWONET). She was the recipient of the 2021

European Union The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...

Human Rights Defenders Award.

Background and education

Aciro started her school life at Reparatrix Boarding school in Bugonge

Entebbe Entebbe is a city in Central Region, Uganda, Central Uganda which is located on Lake Victoria peninsula, approximately southwest of the Ugandan capital city, Kampala. Entebbe was once the seat of government for the Protectorate of Uganda pri ...

, she thereafter joined

Kololo Kololo is a hill in Kampala, the largest city and capital of Uganda. The name also applies to the upscale residential and commercial neighbourhood that sits on that hill. Location Kololo is close to the centre of Kampala, bordered by Naguru t ...

secondary school for her secondary school education. She entered

Uganda women's network The Uganda Women's Network (UWONET) is a Ugandan non-governmental organization (NGO) working to advance public policy regarding women's rights. It is an umbrella organisation of national women's NGOs and individuals operating in East Africa. Th ...

(UWONET) as an intern in 1997.

Career

Aciro has worked with communities and governments in

East Africa East Africa, also known as Eastern Africa or the East of Africa, is a region at the eastern edge of the Africa, African continent, distinguished by its unique geographical, historical, and cultural landscape. Defined in varying scopes, the regi ...

on issues concerning girls and women leadership, women land rights, combating gender based violence, women peace building, civic and voter education plus election observation. She has over 20 years of experience being at the forefront of

advocacy Advocacy is an Action (philosophy), activity by an individual or advocacy group, group that aims to influence decision making, decisions within political, economic, and social institutions. Advocacy includes activities and publications to infl ...

and campaigning on the rights of women and girls. In 2021 the European Union Human Rights Defenders Award, awarded annually to a Ugandan human rights defender, recognized her contribution to the rights of women and girls in Uganda and promotion of

human rights Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...

and

democratic values Democracy (from , ''dēmos'' 'people' and ''kratos'' 'rule') is a form of government in which political power is vested in the people or the population of a state. Under a minimalist definition of democracy, rulers are elected through competitiv ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aciro, Rita Living people Ugandan human rights activists Date of birth missing (living people) Ugandan women activists Year of birth missing (living people)