Women's groups fight against the new marriage rules they call harmful. They reject parts of the Marriage Bill that punish people living together without marriage papers. The bill wants to jail couples who live as married but lack legal papers for three years, with a fine of 10 million shillings. MP Sarah Opendi brought this private bill, which aims at couples who share homes, buy things together, have kids, or when women take men's last names.
They also oppose the Sexual Offences Bill that targets sex workers with jail time. Lawmakers want seven years in jail for anyone running a brothel. Both sex workers and their customers face two years behind bars if caught. Activists met reporters Friday, asking lawmakers to throw out these parts, saying they hurt women instead of helping them.
Female rights defender Rose Wakikona stressed that women need money, power, and body freedom. She said they want happy families, but not by forcing women backward. Wakikona added that families work better when women have rights. She argued that the old family model makes women less safe, and laws must protect all women, no matter how they choose to live.
They also oppose the Sexual Offences Bill that targets sex workers with jail time. Lawmakers want seven years in jail for anyone running a brothel. Both sex workers and their customers face two years behind bars if caught. Activists met reporters Friday, asking lawmakers to throw out these parts, saying they hurt women instead of helping them.
Female rights defender Rose Wakikona stressed that women need money, power, and body freedom. She said they want happy families, but not by forcing women backward. Wakikona added that families work better when women have rights. She argued that the old family model makes women less safe, and laws must protect all women, no matter how they choose to live.
