Anonymous

My name is Nomsa  I stay Ga-Mashashane, Mohlonong. I was married in the Mabotja family from 2007. Things were fine between me and my husband until 2013. In 2013 he […]

Le ministre de l’éducation a présenté le projet Sankore : l’introduction d’une nouvelle technologie dans l’école des le mois d’Avril 2011’qui a pour objectif d’encourager l’enfant Á  aimer l’école davantage que sa maison.

Much has happened since our last newsletter – Beijing +10 has come and gone; the Zimbabwe elections have taken place and as we write, the third session of the Pan-African Parliament is underway.

Greetings and happy new year to all! Karibu to new members of GEMSA who may be receiving this newsletter for the first time! You are most welcome to this forum of organisations and individuals who work to “make every voice count, and count that it does.”

December 10th marked the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence Campaign around the world. For some it has been a period in which their work to end gender violence has been recognised and made public; for survivors of violence it has provided the opportunity to speak out about their experiences and by so doing, encourage others to do the same; for gender and HIV/AIDS organisations and activists, it has been a period in which the links between the epidemics of gender violence and HIV/AIDS have been highlighted, with the hope that they will be addressed simultaneously. The positive aspects of the campaign are many.

The Swazi media should be commended for its commitment towards the fight against gender violence in Swaziland. The media in Swaziland have shown their commitment by reporting and exploring issues of rape, murder, incest and domestic violence during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence Campaign. The media showed interest in the 16 Days Campaign at the start of the international campaign. Swaziland Media Gender Watch (SMEGWA) visited media houses before the start of the campaign in Swaziland with the aim of sensitise journalists and editors on sensitive reporting on gender violence issues which avoided attaching stigma to survivors of abuse.

There are a number of obstacles in the way of women trying to leave abusive relationships. Many social systems dictate that women should remain in their marriages and relationships, however abusive, as it is their responsibility to maintain their families. Adding to this pressure is that of wondering where to go ? especially if family and other support structures are not available.

Many women occupy the lower end of the workforce ? as traders in the informal economy, in domestic work, in unskilled labour activities and in the survivalist sector. Other women are in high-earning managerial and professional occupations. Yet a percentage of both groups of women, and men for that matter, will experience sexual harassment in their workplaces.

Botswana Media Women Association in collaboration with GEMSA and Women?s NGO Coalition held a seminar for domestic workers on gender-based violence and HIV/AIDS. Youth and adults attended the seminar, some of whom were self-employed. The objective of the seminar was to educate domestic workers on the violence and HIV/AIDS and to raise awareness about the 16 Days of Activism in Botswana.

?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.

Speaking during the commemoration of World AIDS Day held at Siteki in the Lubombo region on Saturday, Swaziland?s Queen Mother, Ntombi Tfwala condemned Swazi men who abuse women and children.