News
Pockets of food insecurity are plaguing areas in Southern Africa where floods or prolonged mid-season dry spells have reduced harvests. Communities are battling to access food and desperate families increasingly go hungry, according to a Famine Early Warning Systems Network assessment conducted in July. It points out varying food insecurity levels across the Southern African Development Community region, with higher levels in Lesotho and greater food insecurity anticipated in Namibia -- the two countries where the impact of excessive rains and floods on crop production and livelihoods is most severe. Conditions in these areas remain a concern as harvests have been reduced. The resulting food deficits have had adverse impacts, especially on poor households that, even in average production years, face constraints in accessing adequate food.
The war on rape is far from being won and more attention needs to be given to curb the scourge, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has acknowledged. Speaking at the release of the National Crime Statistics in Pretoria on Thursday, Mthethwa said the number of reported rapes for the period 1 April 2010 to 31 March 2011 was unacceptably high. Even though the sexual offences ratio had decreased by 3.1%, and they had been on a general decline for the past two years, the minister said he was particularly concerned about rape. "Rape increased from 55 097 to 56 272 cases and we cannot seriously say we are winning the war against rape," Mthethwa said.
Children and young people continue to lack accurate and comprehensive knowledge of HIV and how to avoid sexual transmission of HIV. The silence around sexuality in general and children’s sexuality in particular generates misconceptions, myths and misinformation which contribute to children and adolescents risky sexual practices. Save the Children, the world’s largest independent child rights organisation, commissioned the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) to undertake pioneering research in South Africa and Zambia to examine attitudes, practices and knowledge of sexuality, gender, sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and HIV among children between the age of 5-17. In South Africa, the study showed that children between 5-11 years old have very limited knowledge of their own sexuality, reproduction or their sexual and reproductive health. The age group 12–17 had higher levels of knowledge but it was still not comprehensive. This is significant because according to the research the average age of sexual debut for both boys and girls was between 14 and 15 years and most parents were unaware that their children were sexually active. The study found that for 12-17 year olds schools and peers are the main sources of information on sexuality and reproductive health with only 12 percent of parents or guardians having discussed issues of sex and HIV and AIDS with their children.
In response to an article entitled 'Unpacking the LGBTI communities', by Andrey Mbugua, Mia Nikasimo takes great exception to Mbugua's assumptions, language and presentations of LBGTI and transsexual people.On 'Unpacking the LGBTI communities'[1]: 'I matter because I say I do as an African (black) transsexual woman (gender identity) who identifies as a lesbian (sexual orientation) and that all there is to it.' This essay is a response to 'Unpacking the LGBTI communities,' by Audrey Mbugua. I do not know the author of this article personally but I am enamoured by her eloquence with the regards to the positioning of the 'tagging' of the 'T' onto the LGB. However, I do not agree with the exclusions hazarded in the writer's attempts to unpack the LGBTI community. Sure, according to the author, '[t]he issues concerning LGB people stem from sexual orientation, whereas those of transgender people stem from their gender.' [2] I almost said as in gender role, but no. For me, matters are more personal and so is my gender identity. I say who I am, no matter what the wider communities positions are. I matter because I say I do as an African (black) transsexual woman (gender identity) who identifies as a lesbian (sexual orientation) and that all there is to it.
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, has called on the Atteridgeville community to break the silence on woman and child abuse.Responding to a tragedy involving a man who last Wednesday allegedly burnt to death a woman and her two daughters, aged 14 and 18, at their home in the Tsunami informal settlement, Ramokgopa challenged the community to reflect on what else needed to be done to stop the carnage of gender based violence. She led a delegation, including local councillors and parliamentary constituency office, which visited relatives of the deceased Ralulimi family to provide support following the incident. According to neighbours, the man had stopped visiting the family for a while and it was understood that the 33-year-old woman, Thifhelimbilu Ralulimi, had obtained a restraining order against him.
While health care and educational professionals are always in contact with victims of violence, they are unable to assist them due to lack of knowledge on how to recognise victims of violence. In a bid to equip these professionals on how to recognise and respond to victims of violence, a newly launched Gender-Based Violence Capacity Development Project will develop a series of training programmes tailored to the working environment of health care and educational professionals. Launched on Tuesday, the project aims to train 3 825 health care and educational professionals on violence-related subjects, including recognising and responding to gender-based violence. This will include training community service doctors on how to collect forensic evidence in violence-related injury cases, especially rape cases, using standardised guidelines and evidence collection kits. The project will be rolled out with the Foundation for Professional Development (FPD) in collaboration with the National Centre for Knowledge (NCK) on Men's Violence against Women at Uppsala University Hospital in Sweden, through the support of the Swedish International Development Agency.
In this article, Melanie Judge, a lesbian activist, takes a close look at President Jacob Zuma’s nomination of Judge Mogoeng Mogoeng to succeed Justice Sandile Ngcobo as the new Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court and Mogoeng’s controversial judgments on gender casesJoining the dots between Judge Mogoeng, Slutwalkers, gay and lesbian people feels oddly uncomfortable. This discomfort has to do with what waits in the wings at the Constitutional Court should Mogoeng be appointed as Chief Justice. Some of Mogoeng’s past judgments and present associations are alarming to anyone committed to the ongoing struggles towards dignity, equality, and freedom for women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people. As active citizens we have a responsibility to ensure proper legal and social scrutiny of Mogoeng’s suitability to hold an office which is a key custodian of the Constitution.
Women’sNet hosted a training workshop funded by the Oxfam Canada Women’s Rights Advancement Programme (OWRAP). Joining us for the training is Women on Farms, Cape Town Rape Crisis Centre and Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT). The training workshop ran from 5th September up to Thursday the 8th in Cape Town.
This year's Women's Month programme has been effective in highlighting the continued marginalisation of women in the South African economy. This is the view of Women, Children and People with Disabilities Minister, Lulu Xingwana. South Africa annually dedicates August to commemorate the aspirations and achievements of women. "While South Africa's general unemployment is estimated at 25, 7 percent, amongst African women this figure stands at 50 percent. "About 41 percent of these women live in the former Bantustans where economic prospects are extremely limited," said Xingwana at the closing event for Women's Month in the Free State which included the opening of a clinic, sod turning for a pre-school building and the launch of a number of projects aimed at empowering women in the area.
Internet governance in Southern Africa has taken a giant leap forward as South Africa teams up with NEPAD and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to launch the Southern African Internet Governance Forum (SAIGF), the first of its kind in a region populated by more than 260 million people. The three-day conference launch kicked off yesterday, Thursday, 1 September 2011, at the Hilton Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. Internet governance's components include questions of local content, access and diversity, cyber-security and its impact on vulnerable groups, managing critical resources, cross-border internet governance, openness and privacy, domain names, cloud computing and mobile internet, among others.
This article reflects on the activities that marked Women’s Month in 2011, highlighting challenges that women’s rights organisations face and the long journey that South Africa has to travel in order to eliminate all forms of injustices against women. August women’s month has come and gone, yet many thoughts continue to reel through my mind. This is a dedicated time devoted to celebrating women in South Africa and our milestone achievements. As always, the month indeed proved to be the busiest time for me, working within the women rights sector.
North West MEC for Social Development, Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Mosetsanagape Mokomele-Mothibi, is expected to address provincial rural women attending the Victim Empowerment Seminar aimed at empowering women on gender based violence. The seminar, which is currently taking place in Klerksdorp, is hosted by the department and aims to empower non-governmental organisations, government departments and women leaders within Dr Kenneth Kaunda District on gender equality and domestic violence, which is prevalent in the area.
HARROWING tales of the dark days of apartheid and the sacrifices that were made in the name of freedom were recounted by female activists at the launch of Governance Week on 29 August, at the old Women’s Jail on Constitution Hill. Many participants who had gathered to celebrate the achievements of female leaders in local government were shell shocked after listening to some of the experiences of the activists during the apartheid regime. August is Women’s Month, and women took centre stage with a dialogue on activism in government as the curtain was raised on the City’s GDS2040 discussions on governance. The dialogue is part of the public participation on the City’s Growth and Development Strategy (GDS) an overarching plan for the long-term development of Joburg.
South Africa deploys the largest number of female soldiers in peace-keeping missions compared with other troop contributing countries, says Defence and Military Veterans Minister Lindiwe Sisulu. According to Sisulu, 21% of the soldiers deployed in peace-keeping missions are women. Speaking at the SANDF Women's Day Parade, aimed at acknowledging women in the service, Sisulu said the protection and defence of the country's sovereignty is no longer a male only preserve. This was the first time the SANDF hosted the event. Sisulu said women have a duty to liberate men from "antique" concept and attitudes about the place and role of women in society, and the development and direction of democracy. "Our women should not behave as if there was no place for them in the organisation above the level of certain categories. "Every passing day brings confirmation that women in defence occupy an exceptional place in our society because they have chosen to lay their lives for the protection of the sovereignty of the Republic," the minister said.
African media faces immense gender disparities, with men taking up most of the top and specialised positions, a report by the Federation of African Journalists has revealed. In East Africa where Uganda lies, only three per cent of female journalists are included in decision-making positions, 27 per cent reported unfair treatment on basis of gender, while 53 per cent cited favouritism. While presenting the findings at the All Africa Conference on Gender and Media in Rwanda at the weekend, Mr Amie Joof, the Executive Director Inter Africa Network for Women, Media, Gender Equity and Development, said limited training and low levels of education are the major reasons why women have lagged behind in the media.