GEMSA 16 Days of Activism Newsletter Issue 9

E-Newsletter of  the Gender and Media Southern Africa Network

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

Issue 9, 7^th 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

“For the health of women, for the health of the world: no more violence” is the theme for the International 16 Days of Activism Campaign.  It recognises that violence against women has multiple impacts – on societies; economies; communities and individuals.

Addressing the health impacts of violence means addressing the physical, psychological, reproductive and sexual health of women and men.  It means a holistic approach to health and the body. In many countries across the region survivors of sexual assault find themselves coping with the physical and psychological trauma as well as the real threat of contracting HIV.

It is for this reason amongst others that access to and provision of post-prophylaxis treatment is a matter of life and death for survivors of sexual assault. Despite this there are low levels of awareness on PEP and its use; and even fewer health facilities where the potentially life saving drugs are available.

Through our various activities and programmes aimed addressing gender violence let us make access to and the provision of PEP a matter of priority.

Today’s I story

I am a survivor

By Dimakatso Manki Jacobeth Vena

I never thought that I would be able to face the world again after the experiences I’ve had to deal with in my life. But sharing my story today does not hurt me as much as it once did because I have made peace with myself. I do not regard myself as a victim, but as a survivor.

Read the full story at:

https://www.genderlinks.org.za/gemcomm/gemcomm.asp?cid=101

The slogan under which activities took place in Mauritius on Tuesday was “Vanessa, Sandya, Nadine, Neetrawtee, Soonati! How many more?” This particular slogan served to highlight the human face of gender violence – all five women mentioned in the slogan have died. Natresa held a major campaign in Cite Magalkhan in Curepipe to talk domestic violence. They also released statistics on crime committed against women.

An interactive workshop with youth was also held on HIV protection and prevention methods and gender at the Thabor in Rose Hill.

Go to Media Watch Organisation’s website at: http://mediawatch.clickpost.com

(By Loga Virahsawmy) 

The provision of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to survivors of violence in South Africa is of urgent concern to those working in the gender justice sector. The treatment clause in the debated Sexual Offences Bill is in the process of being redrafted and there are concerns over its inclusion and provisions.

Under the theme “Treatment and care”  Deputy Minister of Social Development Jean Benjamin,  Noeleen Heyzer, Executive Director of UNIFEM, Rose  Thamae from Lets Grow Together and Dumisani Rebombo from Engender Health discussed the health and human rights issues linked to the provision of PEP.  Heyzer said: “As a disease HIV/AIDS is a health issue; as a pandemic it is a gender issue.”

The need to raise awareness on PEP; the inclusion of the treatment clause in the Sexual Offences Bill; and what is being done to ensure the availability of PEP at all health facilities were raised as key areas around which advocacy and action is needed.

For information on the discussion go to: www.cyberdialogues.co.za and follow the link from “Health: Reproductive, Sexual, Physical and Psychological.”

Write to us: admin@genderlinks.org.za

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