News and opinion

Grahamstown, 9 December: Despite extensive legislation aimed at tackling the scourge of sexual violence in our country and elsewhere in our region, little progress, if any, has been made to curb this social catastrophe. This shocking reality is comes under the spotlight every year as we commemorate the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.

By providing a sketch of the harm that rape perpetuates, we are better able engage with those who are working to reconstruct their lives in the wake of the violence meted out against them.

Johannesburg, 5 December: When friends and family ask why I am busier than usual, my response is rather morose and bitter: “Sixteen Days of lip service keeps me super busy.” Spammed with emails, phone rings off the hook-the media suddenly cares about gender-based violence and gender equality. Governments’ speeches, which have begun to echo the sluggish monotony of test cricket commentary, are undoubtedly recycled from years prior. But for a little novelty, they add a sexist faux pas here and there- to keep us agonised or entertained? I have no clue.

Blantyre, 4 December: As countries take stock of efforts aimed at ending gender violence (GBV) during the Sixteen Days of Activism, a close up on Malawi shows that this country has a long way to go to eradicate the GBV, gender inequality and other social inequalities what weigh heavy on women’s shoulders. Despite Malawi’s Domestic Violence Act and legislation on sexual harassment, gender violence persists due to lack of implementation, missing legislation and contradictory laws that negatively impact on women’s rights.

*Trigger warning: violence and abuse*
Gaborone, 4 December: Aspiring entrepreneur and survivor of gender violence-Okhola Masiele tells GL her story, sharing her past as well as her dreams for the future. Masiele was part of the Gender Links entrepreneurship programme which aims to empower survivors of violence to ensure they are economically independent and able to escape abuse. She also won in the Emerging Entrepreneurship category at the SADC Gender Protocol Summit hosted by GL in May.

Maputo, 4 de Dezembro: Os casamentos prematuros, de acordo com alguns activistas dos direitos da mulher e da criança, propiciam a violência baseada no género. As raparigas esposadas, muito cedo abandonam a escola para se dedicarem aos maridos. A directora executiva da Fundação para o Desenvolvimento da Comunidade (FDC), Zélia Menete, defende que a educação é um bem essencial para prevenir este tipo de violência.

Gaborone, 3 December: Today we commemorate International Day of Disability, which also falls during the Sixteen Days of Activism campaign against gender violence. It has become more widely known that women with disabilities are the most vulnerable to abuse and sexual violence, facing double the risk of being survivors of gender violence compared to their non-disabled counterparts

Johannesburg, 3 December: Rose Thamae, gender based violence survivor – turned activist, is from Orange Farm in Gauteng. She is the founder of a community based organisation in called Let Us Grow, which provides home based care and support to people living with HIV, survivors of GBV, people with disabilities

Michigan, 2 December: The recent world-famous case of Oscar Pistorius getting a five year sentence for shooting his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day has put the issue of femicide back under the spotlight. Found guilty of homicide, but not murder, the lenient sentence sent shockwaves through South Africa and the globe.

Maputo, 1 December: According to the 2014 SADC Gender Protocol Barometer, HIV and AIDS prevalence has decreased consistently over the past decade as fewer people are becoming infected. New infections among adults have decreased by over 50% in Botswana, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. New infections among adults have decreased by over 25% in Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland.

Mbabane, 1 December: Thembi Manana of Mandlangempisi in the Hhohho region has been living with HIV for ten years. Every day she takes a positive step towards life, never defaulting on her antiretroviral treatment. With life in her step, she provides home-based care in her community – going from house to house – urging people to get tested, counselling and caring for others living with HIV and related illnesses.

Michigan, 28 November: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a global problem of pandemic proportions. According to the United Nations, one in three women will be beaten, raped or abused in her lifetime. This translates to one billion women who are both directly and indirectly affected by gender violence. Across the many different types of violence defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), including self-directed, interpersonal and collective violence, between men and against women, the perpetrators are primarily men.

Mozambique, 27 November: As we commemorate Sixteen Days of Activism, it is important to consider all the forms of violence that women and girls are subject to and how these forms fundamentally effect their access to education, employment and the economy. This disempowerment perpetuates gender inequality and