16 Days of Activism 2009

10 DECEMBER 2009: GENDER AND SOCCER 2010, PROBLEMS AND POSSIBILITIES Halve gender violence by 2015, score a goal for gender equality Gender Links cordially invites you to Gender and Soccer […]

Human trafficking – 8 December Time: 10h00 to 14h00Venue: The City of Joburg Offices, 158 Loveday St, Reception block A, Johannesburg. Please see fact sheet and read more on the […]

Sex Work – 7 December Time: 10h00 to 14h00Venue: The City of Joburg Offices, 158 Loveday St, Reception block A, Johannesburg. Please see fact sheet and read more on the […]

While President Jacob Zuma grabbled world headlines last week with his about turn on government’s HIV and AIDS policy, he has been conspicuous for his absence from the Sixteen Days of Activism that runs from 25 November (International Day of No Violence Against Women) to 10 December each year. Newspapers have been flooded with news of the fight against HIV and Aids under the banner “hope.À The same cannot be said about the fight against the twin scourge of gender violence.

Gender Based Violence and Religion – 4 December Time: 10h00 to 14h00Venue: The City of Joburg Offices, 158 Loveday St, Reception block A, Johannesburg. See fact sheet and read more […]

Disability and GBVTime: 10h00 to 14h00Venue: The City of Joburg Offices, 158 Loveday St, Reception block A, Johannesburg. See fact sheet and read more on the 16 days campaign. For […]

Men and women with disabilities face many challenges in Southern Africa, especially related to discrimination and access to services. For many women, this also means that they face challenges when accessing health care services at one of the times when it is most important À“ when they are pregnant.

Last year I told my story about how a man in my community had harassed me, until one day he finally beat me so badly I had to go to the hospital, just because I am disabled. This day was a terrible day for me, it even left me with scars. Even worse, for four years after that day, I did not go back to that place. I even left my house there, and went to live with my mother. I did not want to see him or face him.

Will society accept me with a disfigured face like I have now? Will I ever walk up the streets out there to go to school after what this cruel man has done to me? I feel I have nothing left to be proud of and I have lost the biggest purpose of my life – completing school. I had hoped one day to have a house of my own and to be like many other women, educated and working.

As we commemorate 16 Days of Activism, along with highlighting how extensive the problem still is, we also need to pause a moment to thank the people who work tirelessly 365 days a year to help and support survivors. Iriss Phiri, whose home in Lusaka’s Chilulu residential area is a haven for women fleeing violence, is one such person.