Quote of the week
The emotional, sexual, and psychological stereotyping of females begins when the doctor says, "It's a girl."
- Shirley Chisholm.
Comment of the week
“It’s not as bad as it seems. More men practise gender equality than we are aware of. But they do it quietly because they fear being ostracised and stigmatised. Gender discrimination is very powerful.”
- Dean Peacock.
SN-Announce
SN-Announce is an e-mail advertising service with a readership of more than 10 000 people. Subscription to the SN-Announce service is free. For more information contact Nicolle Beeby on +27 11 403-4935 or nicolle@sangonet.org.za
Prodder Directory
Prodder is the most comprehensive directory of NGOs and development organisations in South Africa. To view the directory, click here. Order your copy of Prodder - NGOs and Development in South Africa 2008, here.
SANGOTeCH
SANGOTeCH provides software and hardware to NGOs at discounted fees in conjunction with ICT donor partners. It supports NGOs to make the most of their ICT purchases and infrastructure. For more information about SANGOTeCH, click here.
BackaBuddy
SANGONeT supports BackaBuddy, an online fundraising website which combines the power of sport and the reach of the Internet in support of NGOs in South Africa. For more information contact David Barnard or Matthew de Gale on +27 11 403-4935 or e-mail: info@sangonet.org.za
|
Care Work, HIV and AIDS, International Women’s Day…
8 March 2009 is International Women’s Day. Celebrated by the United Nations since 1975, according to the UN’s WomenWatch, “It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.”
I don’t know if I have worked in the women’s rights sector too long or if I’ve become a cynic, but ‘recognition’ is not enough. Neither is ‘looking ahead’ to ‘untapped potential and opportunities’. I want tangible, positive and measurable change in the lives of women across race, class, sexual orientation, geographic and other diversities – now. I do not want to participate in yet another event to mark the day that aims to ‘give women a voice’ – we have voices, the problem is that we aren’t listened to. Neither do I want to participate in another blindly celebratory occasion which only honours my ‘amazing strength and resilience’, and does not recognise my vulnerability.
What brought this rant on you may ask? After reading that the theme of this year’s celebrations is “Women and Men United to End Violence Against Women and Girls” the next message that arrived in my inbox was a call to participate in mass action from the One in Nine Campaign in support of a rape victim whose case has been postponed, struck off the roll, reinstated, postponed again ... since October 2005! The One in Nine Campaign traces the history of Busisiwe’s case and write that she has been ‘raped again by the justice system’. In this context is ‘recognition’ and ‘resilience’ enough?
In this week’s edition of NGO Pulse we publish two articles which relate to the Commission on the Status of Women’s 53rd session, currently taking place in New York. This year’s theme “The equal sharing of responsibilities between women and men, including caregiving in the context of HIV/AIDS" resonates with the International Women’s Day theme - as both recognise the role of men and women in addressing gender violence and HIV and AIDS.
The second article in the series on Sonke Gender Justice’s work we publish today focuses on men as carers. Kristin Palitza writes about nine men working as home-based caregivers with the Siyakhanyisa HIV/AIDS support group in Qumbu to make a positive contribution to the welfare of their community. Initially ridiculed for doing work reserved for women, they have quickly become role models and earned respect for their courage to do things differently and take responsibility for the goings-on in their villages. “Since the men have started to work as carers, there has been a growing demand for the organisation’s services, because most men in rural areas did not like to be cared for by women who are not family members but appreciate the help and support of men from the community,” she writes. Click here to read the full article.
We also publish an article by Jonathan Mundell who pays tribute to former Botswana President Festus Mogae who, he argues, can be celebrated as a true African leader. Mogae’s work in the fight against HIV and AIDS should be lauded. He writes, “the example that he set from his very first day as President of Botswana, the superior leadership that he displayed throughout his tenure, and the continued commitment that he has shown to important causes such as HIV and AIDS and poverty, must not simply be admired and applauded. These are qualities that should be worked towards by anyone in a position of power.” Click here to read the full article.
Remember to join us for the Durban and Cape Town NGO Engagements next week.
Till then, let us try to go beyond ‘recognition’ and the blind celebration of womanhood; and work towards ensuring that what is happening in the Busisiwe case and others like it, does not happen again.Do we ‘cost’ the impact
As always we invite your comments ideas and suggestions.
Editor, editor@sangonet.org.za
New Jobs, Proposals & Events
Employment Opportunities
- The Open Disclosure Foundation invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for the position of Project Manager to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 9 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, a leading training provider for working journalists in South Africa, seeks to appoint an Executive Director to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 13 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The AIDS Consortium, a human rights organisation committed to openness and non-discrimination on the basis of HIV and AIDS, seeks to employ a Senior Bookkeeper/Human Resources Officer to be based in Johannesburg. The application deadline is 16 March 2009. For more information, click here.
Proposals, Grants & Awards
- Entries are invited for the Tech Museum of Innovation Awards. The awards honour innovators from around the world using technology to benefit humanity in the categories of education, equality, economic development, environment and health. The submission deadline is 27 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The African Network for Strategic Communication in Health and Development, an association of health and development practitioners that reside, work, or have a primary interest in Africa, invites entries for its Award for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Communication in Africa. The submission deadline is 30 March 2009. For more information, click here.
- The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime is calling for proposals for projects that are aimed at strengthening direct service delivery to victims of crime and violence. The submission deadline is 31 March 2009. For more information, click here.
New Events
- The South African Human Rights Commission, Constitution Hill, Gender Links and the Mail & Guardian are hosting the Great Political Debate: Is the Personal Political? on 9 March 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The Africa Institute of South Africa is hosting a two-day international conference on Scholarly Publishing in Africa: Opportunities and Impediments from 28-29 May 2009. For more information, click here.
- The Democracy Development Programme is hosting a workshop on Exploring the Gendered Understanding of Sexual Consent and Coercion Among Youth on 14 March 2009 in Durban. For more information, click here.
Training
- The Institute for Women's and Gender Studies at the University of Pretoria is hosting a three-day Gender Catalyst for Change course from 16-18 March 2009 in Pretoria. For more information, click here.
- Siyakhula Trust is conducting a three–day course on CSI Programmes from 22-24 June 2009 in Johannesburg. For more information, click here.
- The Community Development Resource Association is conducting a five-day course on Leading and Managing People Developmentally from 17-21 August 2009 in Cape Town. For more information, click here.
Latest News Flashes
Recent LOCAL news items:
Recent INTERNATIONAL news items:
Non-profit Analysis and Opinions
|
Printer-friendly version
Add Comments