GEMSA 16 Days of Activism Newsletter Issue 6
Date: December 2, 2004
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?I love my sugar daddy and he loves me and buys things for me ? [and also] my friends. But the only thing is that he is sometimes violent towards me. What must I do to make him see that I love him?? This question was posed during the South African cyber dialogues today. It highlights some of the factors which make young women vulnerable to violence ? exploitative relationships with older men; economic dependence; unequal power relations. It also points to the reality that for many young women, their bodies have become commodities.
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E-Newsletter of the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network |
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Produced daily during the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, 2004 Issue 6, 2nd December 2004 |
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IN THIS ISSUE: · Overview · Today’s I story · Country activities Contact your Sixteen Day Campaign country representatives: Botswana: Keaybone Ntsabanye: Womens_ngo_coa@info.bw Kenya: Rosemary Okello: awcin@kenyaonline.co.za Lesotho: Fanyane Mathabang : Mauritius: Loga Virahsawmy: gonaz@intnet.mu Seychelles: Sharon Thelemaque: keraque@hotmail.com South Africa: Mothibi Mohomane: mothibi@genderlinks.org.za Swaziland: Ncane Maziya: smegwa2003@yahoo.com Zambia: Chileshe Kalasa: Kchileshe2000@yahoo.co.uk Zimbabwe: Loveness Jambaya: loveness@mmpz.org.zw Contact your GEMSA country representatives: Angola: Anacleta Pereira Botswana: Pamela Dube Lesotho: Mathabang Fanyane Malawi: Stella Mhura Mauritius: Loga Virahsawmy Mozambique: Jose Marciano Mubai Namibia: Sarry Xoagus- Eises Seychelles: Jean Claude Mantombe South Africa: Kubi Rama Swaziland: Phumelele Dlamini Tanzania: Rose Haji Zambia: Emmanuel Kasongo Zimbabwe: Loveness Jambaya Contact the GEMSA Executive Committee: Chair: Colleen Lowe Morna (South Africa) Deputy Chair: Emmanuel Kasongo (Zambia) Secretary: Tom Mapasela (Lesotho) We encourage you to send us alerts, news and any other information you think may be of interest to others. Media Institute of Southern Africa Gender Links |
Overview
“I love my sugar daddy and he loves me and buys things for me … [and also] my friends. But the only thing is that he is sometimes violent towards me. What must I do to make him see that I love him?” This question was posed during the South African cyber dialogues today. It highlights some of the factors which make young women vulnerable to violence – exploitative relationships with older men; economic dependence; unequal power relations. It also points to the reality that for many young women, their bodies have become commodities. A great deal of research has been undertaken on the attitudes and behaviours of young people as they relate to sexuality, HIV/AIDS, the economy, and a number of other areas. What is often missing from the literature that we access is the voices of young men and women themselves – unmediated; telling their own stories in their own words. It is essential that spaces be created in which young women and men are able to speak and name their own oppressions, in their own words. Our work towards ending gender violence must include young people – as agents and actors of change, not only recipients of solutions handed down by adults. Today’s I story Moving on and reaching out to others By Zarina Geloo who relates a young woman’s story My parents died from AIDS one after the other in September of 2000. I was 12 years old. I went to live with my aunt, my mother’s sister and her family. Things were good for the first couple of months. I do not remember what changed or what triggered it, but in the beginning of 2001, my aunt became harsh with me, beating me for the slightest mistake, calling me all sorts of names. Read the full story at: https://www.genderlinks.org.za/gemcomm/gemcomm.asp?cid=92 MalawiThe 16 Days of Activism in Malawi is underway. The campaign has taken the theme “Supporting women and girls in the fight against HIV/AIDS and was launched by President Bingu wa Mutharika in the Zambia / Malawi border district of Mchinji. A leading story in Malawi media this week has been the President’s assertion that officials from the National AIDS Commission (NAC), an organisation that oversees the HIV/AIDS activities in the country, are misusing funds specifically allocated to address the pandemic. A press release issued by the Ministry of Gender, Child Welfare and Community Services, the NGO Gender Coordination Network, UNICEF and OXFAM, stated that gender based violence is a health, human rights and socio-economic issue. According to the press release “gender based violence has high financial costs related to the provision of health and social services, the police and the criminal justice system, re-housing and reduced economic productivity and family income.” (By Vincent Phiri) MauritiusThe focus in Mauritius today fell on children. Centre d’Education pour le Developpement de l’enfant Mauricien (CEDEM), a member of Media Watch Organisation organised a puppet show to illustrate the different facets of domestic violence to children. SOS Village organised a one day workshop on counselling and advised parents on addressing family problems. It was also an occasion for biological parents to meet parents who have adopted children and to share their experiences. This is the first time that CEDEM and SOS Village are taking part in the 16 days campaign. They realised the importance of the campaign during their participation in a workshop organised by Media Watch. The awareness campaign in Rodrigues is now in its fourth day. The media’s coverage of campaign activities remains prominent, shows are aired on television and radio, and articles dealing with gender violence and HIV/AIDS are published in the print media. (By Loga Virahsawmy) Namibia “Mukwanambwa’s garden: a woman’s struggle”, a play by Vickson Hangula from Home Brewed Productions was performed at the Zoo Park. This was done in collaboration with the Legal Assistance Centre. The Franco Namibian Cultural Centre, as part of a Film Festival screened “Ask me I am positive” while “American History X” was screened at the ACC. A US Cultural Exhibition also opened at the Franco Namibian Cultural Centre. (By Sarry Xoagus-Eises) Seychelles Speaking on World AIDS Day President James Michel pledged that the government would continue assisting civil society in addressing the factors that make women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. President Michel was speaking at Victoria Hospital at the launch of an exhibition to mark World AIDS Day – this year dedicated to the vulnerability of women and girls. The ceremony was attended by Vice-President Joseph Belmont, government ministers, members of the The exhibition, staged at the Communicable Disease Control Unit at the Victoria Hospital, highlighted efforts made by the unit over the past years to detect and treat patients infected with HIV. “AIDS is a unique development challenge,” President Michel said, “We need to accelerate our multi-sectoral actions for preventing HIV. We need to address the structural causes of women’s vulnerability and involve all relevant stakeholders in policy decisions, planning and programme implementation.”
Since 1987, Seychelles has recorded a total of 200 cases of HIV. Today there are 121 recorded people living with HIV/AIDS, 57 are women and 64 men.
(By Marie-Anne Lepathy) South Africa The theme for today’s cyber dialogue “Shame on sugar daddies’” generated a lively discussion amongst participants. Panellists included Riana Jacobs, a young woman living positively with HIV; Sisonke Msimang from UNAIDS; Mmabatho Ramakgoshi from the Department of Education, Zeenat Carelse from the Sexual Offences Court and Shamillah Wilson from the Association for Women’s Rights in Development. The absence of legislation dealing specifically with the issue of “sugar daddies” was raised by many participants. This coupled with a lack of knowledge about their rights, places young girls in vulnerable positions. Violence in relationships between young women and older men was also raised as a concern – with participants questioning why young women stayed in abusive relationships. The economic realities of many young people, coupled with an increasing consumerist society were offered as possible answers. Some participants argued that the girls in these relationships were as much to blame as the older men. Pointing to the unequal power relations within these relationships Sisonke Msimang asked: “Girls are children, how can they be as responsible as the older men?” Look at the discussion by going to: www.cyberdialogues.co.za and following the link from “Young women, violence and HIV/AIDS.” Write to us: admin@genderlinks.org.za Send us information on what activities are taking place in your country. |
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