Last week, we bid farewell and celebrated the incredible journey of our beloved storyteller, Ms. Patience Ahumuza, who is embarking on a new chapter in her life. While the news of her departure may hit you like a sudden gust of wind, leaving you bewildered and saddened, you will also be comforted to know that her departure is a feminist act of resistance - to REST and RECHARGE! Goodbyes are never easy, but we are extremely grateful to have crossed paths and worked with someone as remarkable as Patience. Her work has left an indelible mark on Femme Forte, and we will cherish the memories we've created together forever. Throughout her tenure, Patience has been the driving force behind our organization's voice on all socials, tirelessly advocating for gender equity and empowering voices that often go unheard. From amplifying marginalized voices to spearheading impactful campaigns, creating networks and bonds, teaching and growing with us, she has been instrumental in shaping Femme Forte's message outlook and impact. Besides being our storyteller, Patience also actively participated in programming, fundraising, and administration among other roles. Her leadership, empathy, and fierce determination have inspired us to push boundaries, challenge norms, and strive for a more just and equitable world. Her dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to feminist values have left an indelible mark on our community and beyond. As Patience takes a break to reflect on her career direction, we honor and celebrate her courage to first of all acknowledge the need to take a break - rest is truly resistance, the courage to pursue her passions and dreams unapologetically and the love for work she does to serve and love women. While her absence will be felt deeply within our team, we stand behind her decision to prioritize her own health, growth and general well-being. We have no doubt that Patience will continue to make waves wherever her journey takes her in the feminist spaces. Her impact extends far beyond the confines of our organization, and we eagerly await the incredible contributions she will undoubtedly make in the future. As we bid her farewell, we express our deepest gratitude for the tireless dedication, unwavering passion, and invaluable contributions. While her physical presence will be missed, her legacy will continue to inspire us in our ongoing pursuit of equality and justice. Patience, as you embark on this new chapter, know that you take with you the love, admiration, and endless support of your colleagues and feminist community. May your journey be filled with joy, fulfillment, and boundless opportunities. With heartfelt appreciation and warm wishes, Femme Forte Uganda.
On 11th February 2022, I had a phone conversation with a young excited voice on the other side of the line, this voice, too curious and so eager to meet was asking to volunteer with Femme Forte Uganda. We were going through a transition around that time so I asked her to represent us at a meeting with one of our main partners ( knowing full well she was going to be frustrated and not want to return ) Alas! This was the beginning of what would be a long and beautiful learning journey for us both. Long story short, Ms. Norah joined the team as a volunteer and continued to grow through the ranks to this day. It's with mixed emotions that I bid farewell to Ms. Norah, a shining star in our feminist constellation for the past two years. As she embarks on an exciting journey of pursuing further studies, we raise a collective glass to her remarkable contributions and unwavering commitment to our cause. Norah joined us not just as an employee, but as a young, passionate advocate, a strategic thinker, and a ball of inspiration. Her dedication to our mission was evident in everything she did, from spearheading impactful campaigns to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment for our team.
Dear friends of Femme Forte, we are thrilled to share the August/September newsletter, take the sweet trouble and fix your tight schedules to get familiar with our last two month’s activities. This write-up comes with feminine fondness and friendliness, please scroll relentlessly and get edified with our August endeavours.
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is any sexual act that is perpetrated against a person’s will. In Africa and Uganda in particular, it’s based on gendered norms, cultures, and unequal power relationships all being results of the patriarchal power structure in societies and individual relationships. It includes physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual violence and denial of ownership of resources or access to services. Violence consists of threats and coercion. SGBV inflicts harm on women, girls, men, and boys and is a severe violation of several human rights. Victims of SGBV in Uganda confront a political economy that undermines their access to justice, even as the rights agenda works to develop and implement laws, policies and interventions that promote gender equality and balance. This notion provides insights into the daily struggles of women who have fallen victim to the structural patriarchy that is engrained in Ugandan society. The acts of fighting sexual and gender-based violence in Uganda have become futile without the involvement of Mental Health, one cannot address social, economic, political injustice, discrimination, unfairness, oppression, abuse, and stereotypes without bringing in the context of Mental health which is sensitive to both men and women. Sexual and gender-based violence is one of the hard realities that women in Uganda are facing, this is mostly because of a lack of power and authority due to the patriarchy we are born in. This has culminated into limited access to assets and no social networks to be sure of belonging, gender inequalities, conflict, power imbalance, insufficient food at home and alcoholism, and lack of assertiveness for those who fled their countries due to war (refugees), as a result, they are prone and all vulnerable, as we can all imagine, there is not much a refugee woman can do to keep herself occupied or safe and the inadequate or limited operation of the rescue organizations also put them at a vulnerable position where they can easily be abused or taken advantage of, these organizations fail to keep up or provide appropriate help usually due to increasing numbers of refugees coming into the refugee camps], hence increasing the rate of SGBV and creates a big setback in the acquisition of women empowerment and sustainable development in general. SGBV denies women and girls [men too] the security and freedom to explore their full potential. As long as women and girls are not given a chance to explore their full potential and build up individually, they are forced to settle for less than they could have if they had the freedom and security to do it. Very little is being said about the impact of SGBV on the mental health of the survivors and very little is being done to find out the extent of SGBV on the mental health of its survivors. SGBV has serious consequences on the psychological health of the survivors and their families, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), shock, memory loss, sexual dysfunction, and suicide are some of the psychological effects of SGBV on the survivors and their families. According to research, one-third of all cases of suicide among women, and 60% of all female murder victims are linked to sexual and gender-based violence. Different forms of SGBV also leave a deep emotional scar on many of the survivors. Research conducted by Advocate for Humans Rights revealed that hopelessness, loss of control, anger, suicide, behavior disorders, and eating disorder are some consequences of Sexual and Gender-Based violence. The most common types of SGBV prevailing in Uganda (especially, in the refugee camps) include; rape, female genital Mutilation, forced marriage, wife inheritance, wife battering, defilement, forced prostitution, and incest, and all of these practices are fueled by families that use their daughters as a source of money or resources to survive, young girls in child marriage and forced marriage to be able to get money from the men, law institutions also aid these acts by not seriously taking these cases of abuse into account and punishing the perpetrators, it is purported that when one reports the case to the police, they have to pay an amount between ugx5000-ugx50000 to the police as facilitation fees to officers to arrest the oppressor. With this, few women report these cases of abuse to the authorities considering the financial hurdles in their daily lives. The community also fuels these evil acts of Sexual and gender-based violence by blaming the women and cruising their dressing as the reason for their abuse. If a girl or woman was raped yet she was dressed in a trouser earlier, community members blame her and call her dress code indecent and hence the man goes free. In some communities, women believe that being beaten by their husbands is a sign of love, such beliefs have encouraged SGBV and some of such women have even lost their lives. All that has been shared above have resulted in Post-traumatic stress disorders, anxiety, depression, loss of self-esteem, suicide, sexual dysfunction, and behavioral disorder. Aside from the community, law institutions, families, women, and young girls have little understanding of sexual and gender-based violence and its effect on their mental health. The general public’s understanding of SGBV is limited, men are isolated from discussions on ending SGBV yet they are the main offenders, and the information on which actor should end the vice has not percolated deep to some parties. While men are cited severally to be perpetrators, they too can be fighters of SGBV if sensitization had them in a plan (s). As an extra factor, there is a scarcity of information on SGBV and Mental health. Poverty is yet another reason why SGBV is prevailing because women are following men for bare necessities such as sanitary pads, soap, and lotion and have ended up being abused by these men, they cannot even report it because they will be blamed for it. There is an unmet need for SGBV and mental health services in West Nile resulting in high numbers of women struggling with mental disorders. Several organizations fighting for women’s rights and health could be motivated to take on the task to sensitize the women in these communities about SGBV and its effect on their mental health, the laws that protect them from SGBV, and where they can seek help in case they are abused, and also refer them to where they can get services and some organizations can even decide to provide these services to these survivors of SGBV and their families. Though men and women suffer SGBV, the magnitude of women victims cannot easily be juxtaposed to that of men. There is a need for all concerned to be vigilant, implement policies and handle this conundrum with compassion if we are to realize palpable results.
Not just all women but single mothers and other categories of socially discriminated women should be considered for Post COVID-19 business relief.
The need to address the economic implication of COVID-19 is a critical one particularly a solution that entails taking the gender perspective into consideration. It is an opportunity for women’s voices to be heard in regard to business, inclusive markets, and their status & role in the formal labor market and include these conversations in the economic decision making both on a national & global platform. with requirements like loan documents and security, copies of audited accounts, tax clearance certificates, and proof of National Social Security Fund compliance needed to access the financing from Uganda Development Bank (UDB), it becomes impossible for small businesses (especially in the informal sector) to access this funding The Ugandan government set aside UGX 1 trillion as a stimulus package to benefit Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with the aim of assisting these Ugandan businesses to increase the production of essential goods and services for import replacement and export promotion. However, with requirements like loan documents and security, copies of audited accounts, tax clearance certificates, and proof of National Social Security Fund compliance needed to access the financing from Uganda Development Bank (UDB), it becomes impossible for small businesses (especially in the informal sector) to access this funding. In addition, with the decline in sales due to the reduced purchasing power of consumers owing to the impact of COVID-19, it has reduced the ability of businesses to pay back loans. This lack of financial inclusion risks damaging the economy and regresses the steps that have been made to grow entrepreneurship especially as women in business face bigger obstacles. While governments are taking action to assist the SMEs (that operate on a larger capacity) i.e. through the stimulus package), little has been done/discussed on what will be done to rehabilitate small businesses owned by women including those in the informal sector. Furthermore, as it has been indicated that women have been the most affected by COVID-19 either through singlehandedly supporting households or working as frontline healthcare workers or losing livelihoods/employment, it would be imperative to provide support income. we need all parties involved from policymakers to the government to be aware that gender issues have to be taken into account in their decisions What can be done? We need all parties involved from policymakers to the government to be aware that gender issues have to be taken into account in their decisions. This entails protecting and enforcing women’s rights, ensuring women are represented in leadership positions in the private sector, civil society, business, and politics, and taking the forefront at providing avenues to upskill and include practical skills in the education curriculum that are relevant & offer better opportunities for the present and future of the workplace. Financial inclusion is key to ensure that money is allocated to the population and sectors that need it the most. The COVID-19 crisis is a turning point and opportunity for us to act with intention. If we take measured action and include women in key decision-making processes at all levels in different sectors, then we have a chance to build an economically sound future and make further strides in building gain towards women’s economic empowerment. We will be on our way to ensure gender equality and sustainable economic growth. Originally posted at https://medium.com/@galadrielflorentina/covid-19-womens-economic-empowerment-1a46a2fcbd23
