Daisy Namakula Nakato Uganda
It is important that the Charter be translated in the many African dialects and become a popular
tool used in meetings and spaces where women from all backgrounds come together.
I live in Uganda where I work for Women’s Organisation Network for Human
Rights Advocacy (WONETHA) as a Sex Worker Advocacy and Media
coordinator. I am responsible for reaching out to stake holders, law makers
and the media to advocate for sex workers’ human and health rights to ensure
that the sex workers have access to the necessary services, information and
spaces for their well-being and capacity. I call myself a feminist because I
am moved to take action against structural forces that promote the negative
environment of patriarchy.
I believe that one of the biggest challenges facing feminists in Africa is the lack
of comprehension among many who do not understand feminism. Furthermore,
discrimination and power struggles play a big role in disrupting the momentum
and derails the movement from focusing on the pervasive threat of patriarchy.
This is also not helped by the perception, and sometimes the experiences of
many activists who find that feminism seems to only be for those who are
educated and well-spoken.
At the same time, there are some who choose to call themselves feminists with
the ‘ifs’ and the ‘buts’. In other words, they are only feminists if certain issues
are not taken on, or if certain groups are excluded. This fragmentation means
that a lot of time is spent fighting the demons within. This does not help the