GEMSA 16 Days of Activism Newsletter Issue 7

E-Newsletter of  the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network

Produced daily during the Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, 2004

Issue 7, 3^rd December 2004

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 :

mathabangfanyane@yahoo.co.uk

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

nani@netangola.com

Botswana: Pamela Dube

dube@mmegi.bw

Lesotho: Mathabang Fanyane

mathabangfanyane@yahoo.co.uk

Malawi: Stella Mhura

skaliwo@yahoo.co.uk

Mauritius: Loga Virahsawmy

gonaz@intnet.mu

Mozambique: Jose Marciano Mubai 

Vermoc@tvm.co.mz

Namibia: Sarry Xoagus- Eises

sxoagus@hotmail.com

Seychelles: Jean Claude Mantombe

nccadmin@seychelles.net

South Africa: Kubi Rama

kubi@genderlinks.org.za

Swaziland: Phumelele Dlamini

phumied@yahoo.com

Tanzania: Rose Haji

misatan@africaonline.co.tz

Zambia: Emmanuel Kasongo

ekasongo@coppernet.zm

Zimbabwe: Loveness Jambaya

loveness@mmpz.org.zw

Contact the GEMSA Executive Committee:

Chair: Colleen Lowe Morna (South Africa)

clmorna@mweb.co.za

Deputy Chair: Emmanuel Kasongo (Zambia)

ekasongo@coppernet.zm

Secretary: Tom Mapasela (Lesotho)

tmapasela@yahoo.co.uk

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

www.misa.org

Gender Links

www.genderlinks.org.za

Overview

Gender violence affects women from all walks of life. Whether one is young or older; poor or middle class, living in an urban or rural our unequal status put us at risk of gender violence and HIV infection.

However, women are not a homogenous grouping, our education, economic status, geographical location and other factors all contribute towards some women being more privileged than others. This heterogeneity of the social category “women” therefore requires that interventions and programmes aimed at addressing gender violence take into account the specific conditions and experiences of different groups of women.

Women with disabilities, while they will benefit from for example legislation on domestic violence, face particular challenges and obstacles in accessing the services available to assist women in abusive relationships. The built environment itself is sometimes the greatest obstacle given unfriendly transportation structures and vehicles, there are often no of sign-language interpreters or documents in Braille and very few people have the skills or are trained to assist people with intellectual or psychiatric disabilities.  Adding to these obstacles is the fact that violence against women with disabilities is not often heard about or covered by the media and as result often goes unnoticed and therefore unchallenged.

International Day of Disabled Persons draws attention to the lived experiences of women, men and children living with disabilities.  That this day falls within the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is no coincidence.  As we work towards extending the 16 Days of Campaign to 365, let us all also make sure that every day the rights of women with disabilities are defended and upheld.

Today’s I story

Put yourself in her place

Andries Masebe

To this day, it pains my heart when I see her.

I’ve asked Cindy* for her forgiveness. I’ve told her I am sorry; that I’m in counselling; that I’ve changed. At first she did not want to speak to me, I didn’t blame her. When she did accept my apology my heart was sore, it still is…

Read the full story at:

https://www.genderlinks.org.za/gemcomm/gemcomm.asp?cid=96

International Day of Disabled Persons was commemorated in Lesotho at the National Convention Centre in Maseru. Media Watch Association (MAWA) participated in the event and delivered a presentation on the significance of this date during the 16 Days of Activism. Representatives from United Nations agencies and members of the royal family were also present. Another group of MAWA members were in Nazareth to participate in a mass graduation ceremony for children where they also raised awareness about the 16 Days campaign amongst the children and their parents.

An important activity during the 16 Days of Activism campaign has been the monitoring local print media in relation to insensitive language use with regard to HIV/AIDS and gender related news reports. As part of World AIDS Day activities MISA Lesotho worked with other cooperating partners including MAWA, Lesotho AIDS Programme Coordinating Authority (LAPCA), and UNAIDS to run supplements in the local print media. During World AIDS Day radio slots were secured on some of the local broadcast media to air the story of a person living with AIDS and to observe a moment of silence in commemoration of the lives of those who have been affected and infected by HIV/AIDS and gender based violence.

(By Mathabang Fanyane and Tom Mapasela)

A sensitisation campaign on gender violence was facilitated the treasurer of Media Watch Organisation, Myriam Narainsamy at the South African Human Rights NGO workshop. Myriam has also been requested to write an article on gender and poverty for the La Vie Catholique newspaper.

Media Watch is participating in a national debate on women in the media organised by Soroptimist International with the collaboration of Media Watch and Centre Culturel Charles Baudelaire.

The Minister of Arts and Culture as well as members of the public and civil society organisations have praised Media Watch Organisation for the work undertaken during the 16 Days Campaign.

*Erratum:

The report on the national Mauritius Broadcast Corporation’s one-hour programme on gender and HIV/AIDS contained an inaccuracy.  The Idris Goomany Centre for the rehabilitation of drug abusers and not UNDP- UNAIDS participated in the programme.

Windhoek, 3 December (NAMPA): International Day of Disabled Persons was observed throughout the country. Concerns highlighted at various events included the need for laws to be amended and reformed in order that more people with disabilities are able to make inroads in all sectors of society including parliament in decision-making positions and the work force in both the public and private sectors.

Although a Policy on Disability is in place in Namibia, much more needs to be done as many people with disabilities continue to experience discrimination in education and employment. Mukwaita Shanyengana, Director of Resettlement and Rehabilitation, said at a commemoration ceremony that people with disabilities are part society and should therefore enjoy the right to benefit from all the resources of the country.

The National Assembly adopted the National Policy on Disability in July 1997 with the objective of achieving a fully socially integrated Namibian society. Shanyengana said that integration would never be realised unless those living with disabilities demand their rights.  “It is important that people with disabilities take the lead in all programmes and activities as a united force and fight for their rights,” he said.

(By Sarry Xoagus-Eises: GEMSA)

A group of people with disabilities from Ivory Park joined the cyber dialogues today.  The panel that participated in the live and online discussions included December Shongwe, from the Zenzele Self Help Group for People with Disabilities from Ivory Park, Lisa Vetten, gender coordinator at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation and Lucky Chief, from the Itereleng Community Association.

Inadequate transport systems, limited access to housing and employment opportunities, and discrimination by health workers were just some of the concerns raised during the discussion.  Questions were asked about what the South African government is doing to assist people with disabilities given the existence of the Integrated National Disability Strategy; what provisions the labour laws and employment equity laws make for disabled people; and how to change attitudes and biases against people with disabilities.

Read more about the discussion by going to: www.cyberdialoguez.co.za and following the link from “International Day of the Disabled”.

Don’t forget to respond to the poll question.

Non-Governmental Organisations Co-ordinating Committee (NGOCC), Zambia Women Writers Association, Zambia Media Watch and Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)- Zambia today held a consultative meeting to consolidate their preparations for hosting a cyber dialogue during the 16 Days Campaign. At the same meeting the organisations resolved to continue working closely and agreed to start preparing for International Women’s Day, on 8 March 2004. The meeting resolved to involve journalists, gender activists, legal practitioners and government during the cyber dialogue which is scheduled to take place on 8 December.

(By Brighton Phiri)

Civil society organisations in Zimbabwe continue with programmes and workshops to raise awareness on gender violence during the 16 Days of Activism. Activities today included:

* MWENGO held a public meeting at the Holiday Inn on the 16
Days of Activism.

* NASCO held an event to commemorate the International Day of Disabled Persons.

* Padare organised outreach programmes on gender violence at Tel One Msasa, Tobacco Processes Zimbabwe, the Tendai Hall in Mufakose and the Trinity Methodist Church in Harare.

* The Women’s Coalition Masvingo chapter held an outreach programme

on the effects of violence on women’s health.

* ZimRights hosted a public lecture on gender violence.

* The Zimbabwean Women’s Lawyer’s Association held a one-day community workshop at the Tsungirirayi Centre in Norton and provided legal advise to participants.

* The GEMSA e-dialogues continue. Remember to join the discussion at:

http://www.dgroups.org/groups/GEMSA. Send a message to the list to: GEMSA@dgroups.org

Write to us: admin@genderlinks.org.za

Send us information on what activities are taking place in your country.