Associates for Health Rights Uganda

To advocate and create awareness on mental health among Human Rights Defenders and vulnerable communities who might be exposed to traumatic experiences due to their work or experience that might lead to mental health disorders; and offer practical remedies on resilience for well-being of all.

Strategic Objectives and Program Areas

Strategic Objective One

To create awareness on mental health and wellbeing for human rights defenders and other vulnerable persons in Uganda

Programs

i. Impact Analysis

HRDs invest time and other resources in executing their daily routine. However, their work might bring vicarious trauma and other mental or physical health issues. At AHAR, we are continuously studying; The Impact of such work on the Health and Well Being of HRDs

ii. Creating awareness about mental health issues affecting HRDs and other vulnerable persons.

In many parts of Africa, mental health is considered a non-issue and in most cases, little or no attention is given. The complacency about this public health issue and the lack of sufficient, contextualized information leads to mental health being branded a western social construct.

iii. Developing context-specific tools to respond to the health and wellbeing challenges of HRDs

AHAR is committed to developing localized tools that are available, accessible and affordable to HRDs at risk and other vulnerable persons in Uganda

Strategic Objective Two

Provide psychological and psychosocial services to human rights defenders and vulnerable persons who might be exposed to traumatic experiences that is likely to lead to depression and other mental health disorders.

Programs

i. Well-ness training

AHAR is committed towards the development of inclusive and holistic mental health services for HRDs and other vulnerable persons. In conjunction with our highly qualified, handpicked mental health service providers, we provide resilience training on how to manage various mental health issues

ii. Linkages and Mental Health Service Providers

We are committed to developing linkages with mental health practitioners and service providers in Uganda. Persons at risk are offered recommendations on the services available from our partners, and subsequently provided relevant referrals depending on their unique needs.

Strategic Objective Three

To provide reintegration and settlement services to vulnerable persons who might be detached with their families and or communities.

Programs

i. Research

Working and/or living in the diaspora brings wonderful experiences in the lives of different people. However, there are different interconnected reasons why people might want to return to Uganda after spending some years in the diaspora. Some are deported because of a number of reasons. At AHAR, we believe, the deportation or choice to return might lead to serious mental, and psychological issues that have to be looked at from a human rights lenses.

Our research function is committed to draw a holistic analysis of the relationship between migration, deportation and mental health.

ii. Localized Mental Health Tools

A clear understanding of the lived realities of returnees or deportees enables us to develop context specific tools and services that are responsive to the unique, local needs of our target groups

iii. Family, Friends and Reintegration

Returnees, deportees and other vulnerable persons often experience unique challenges in trying to resettle back into their respective local communities. Our unique approach acknowledges the role of positive family relationships and friendships. We believe that persons at risk can be empowered to leverage on the power such connections have on the reintegration process in local communities.

Strategic Objective Four

To provide legal aid services to clients suffering from and/or experiencing mental and psychological health disorders;

Programs

i. Accommodation Guidelines

World over, mental health service users are not accommodated within the court system of different parts of the world. AHAR is committed to developing guidelines for the Justice, Law and Order Sector (JLOS) of Uganda on best ways through which such persons can be accommodated in the justice system

ii. Legal aid

AHAR is committed to provide the relevant legal support needed by our target group to help them navigate through different aspects of their lives.

Strategic Objective Five

To research, document, analyse and disseminate information on legislation and policies in relation to mental health.

Programs

i. National Advocacy

We are committed to studying the current local legislation and existing policies and guidelines to identify any gaps that exist between effective service delivery and discrimination of persons with mental health needs and other vulnerable persons.

ii. Understanding regional and global mechanisms

We believe that the development of contextualized services and tools should be inline with international human rights norms. We are therefore committed to exploring the applicability of regional and global mechanisms within the local protection framework of persons living with mental disabilities and other forms of discrimination affecting our target group.