gender equality

The Joint Working Group (JWG) says that although everyone is entitled to their own opinion, Arts and Culture minister, Lulu Xingwana, as a person in public office, should not have walked out of an exhibition.

JWG’s Emily Craven says that by walking out of the exhibition, the minister played into the panic around homophobia in the country.

Gay rights groups have condemned a Ugandan pastor who screened same-sex pornography in a church to try to bolster support for proposed anti-homosexuality legislation.

Martin Ssempa, one of the main backers of a Bill that would impose the death penalty for some offenders, aired the explicit slideshow to several hundred people during a church service in Kampala.

South African gay rights group, Behind the Mask, has described the video as ’twisted homophobic propaganda’.

Controversial columnist, Jon Qwelane, whose reported appointment as ambassador to Uganda has been criticised because of his anti-gay stance, is being sued for R100 000 by the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC).

The SAHRC claims that Qwelane and his former employer, Media 24, must pay the 777 Campaign Against Hate Crimes the money in reparation for the ‘pain and suffering’ caused by a 2008 column in which Qwelane criticised homosexuality.

Sex workers' advocates have called for the decriminalisation of prostitution in South Africa as a preventive measure to contain the spread of HIV during this year's World Cup.

Sex Worker Education and Advocacy Taskforce, director, Eric Harper, says that a rise in demand for prostitution during the World Cup could be a ‘recipe for disaster’, as researchers have estimated that almost half of female sex workers in Johannesburg alone have HIV.

Judgement in the hate-speech case against African National Congress Youth League president, Julius Malema, has been reserved in the Equality Court.

Magistrate, Colleen Collis, says that she will indicate the date that judgement will be handed down at a later stage.

Malema was taken to court by the Sonke Gender Justice Network over his comments that President Jacob Zuma's rape accuser had a nice time during the alleged incident.

The Commission for Gender Equality urges individuals at Athletics South Africa (ASA) to confess their involvement in the Caster Semenya saga.

CGE spokesperson, Javu Baloyi, states that, "Although an apology is warranted under the circumstances, the central issue, however, is Ms Semenya who has suffered an enormous amount of public humiliation and trauma."

Despite the flurry of media coverage on women in politics during the 2009 elections, Namibia may witness a decline in women’s representation in parliament from 30.8% to 25% in the 27-28 November polls, according to an election forecast by Gender Links and the Gender and Media Southern African Network (GEMSA)-Namibia.

“As men, we are the ones implicated in health and human rights crises across the globe, we as men are therefore essential for a successful resolution - whether it be stopping sexual violence; preventing new HIV infections; expanding treatment and reducing the burden of AIDS care borne by women and girls; increasing men’s active involvement in the lives of their children; strengthening health systems or promoting a more active sense of citizenship aimed at holding government to account for their commitments.” Sandi Mbatsha, on behalf of Noluthando Mayende-Sibiya, Minister for