Dorothea Wilson

Dorotea Wilson Tathum (born 1948) is a Nicaraguan politician and women's rights activist. She was a congresswoman and member of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). She has founded and co-founded a wide range of organisations that raise awareness of the rights of women and black people in Nicaragua, including the Nicaraguan Women's Forum and the Summit of Afro-descendant Women Leaders of the Americas, amongst others. In 2011, she was awarded the International Prize for Equality and Non-Discrimination awarded by the National Council to Prevent Discrimination.

Early life and education Born in Puerto Cabezas in 1948, Wilson is of African descent; she is one of 9 siblings. Her father worked in the region's gold mines, and her mother sold pastries to local timber workers. Wilson has an MSc in Gender and Development from the Central American University.

Career In 1975, she joined a guerrilla organisation which was part of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). Wilson's political activities were a violation of her vows as a nun, so she chose to renounce them and leave the convent. In this, she was influenced by her religious beliefs, particularly those related to supporting the poor and social justice. Wilson was also a key voice in the drafting of the Statute of Autonomy (Law 28), which was legislated in 1987, and brokered peace between the FSLN and other guerrilla groups on the coast who were fighting to retain autonomy. She has spoken out over how her involvement with the FSLN led to the awakening of her Afro-Nicaraguan identity.

In 2015, she organized the first Summit of Afro-descendant Women Leaders of the Americas, which took place from 26–28 June in Managua, Nicaragua. She is the founder of the organization Voces Caribeñas (Caribbean Voices),

Awards

2011: International Prize for Equality and Non-Discrimination awarded by the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred) 2020: Generation Equality Award