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AGYW Spotlight
Media
This section is updated monthly with resources that are under the spotlight.
Condoms will soon be accessed by teenagers at their schools
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga gazetted the department’s finalised National policy on HIV, STIs and TB for learners, educators, school support staff and officials in all primary and secondary schools in the basic education sector last Friday.
The policy paved way for private distribution of condoms to pupils over 12, the age in which the government stipulates children have a right to access sexual and reproductive health services without parents’ consent.
‘Crimes against women have risen 9.7%’
During the launch of Women’s Month celebrations on Tuesday, Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas indicated that incidents of violent crimes including rape and murder, against women and children had increased by 9.7% since the beginning of the year.
She urged society and especially men to join hands in combating the scourge of women and child abuse.
“Since the beginning of this year a number of shocking incidents of violence and abuse have been making the headlines. As we join to celebrate Women’s Month let us honour our women and children by acting together to prevent abuse and to ensure a safer society for our women and children.”
Lucas stated that President Jacob Zuma would deliver the official Women’s Day address at the Galeshewe Stadium on August 9.
“The president will make announcements with regard to women’s economic emancipation and address issues of gender-based violence and the role that government is playing in fighting this scourge. There will also be exhibitions showcasing government’s achievements and programmes aimed at women empowerment, especially in mining and agriculture which are key in our province.”
She added that various activities would be held during the month which would focus on girl and women development and empowerment.
“Together with the national Department of Women we will also be rolling out dialogues on violence against women to help combat the continued scourge of violent attacks and abuse against women. The dialogues will serve as a platform for deepening democracy whilst also ensuring safer and crime-free communities, especially for our women and children.
“Emanating from this dialogue there should be a gender-based violence strategy so as to ensure that we walk our talk.”
Lucas indicated that women empowerment could not be achieved without improving access to land, education, health services and social infrastructure.
“The Northern Cape will continue to place specific emphasis on the socio-economic empowerment of women,” she said.
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We must resist the practice of ‘blessers’‚ says Ramaphosa
Men must reject the idea of women as possessions of men and resist the practice of “blessers” and prostituting young women‚ says Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa. Speaking at the Rhema Bible Church in Randburg during a special sermon on no violence against women and children‚ Ramaphosa said that just as had been done during the apartheid struggle all sectors of society needed to be mobilised against this scourge.
“In working to end violence against women and children‚ we need to ensure that men are centrally involved. “Men need to organise themselves in a sustained campaign against gender-based violence. “Individually and collectively‚ they need to understand that their actions now will determine the kind of society our children live in tomorrow‚” Ramaphosa said‚ adding that society must combat the objectification of women.
“We should reject the idea of women as possessions of men and resist the practice of ‘blessers’ and prostituting young women. “We must help women reclaim agency over their lives and bodies.
“The time has come for all of us to speak with one voice and take a stand. “Just as we did during the apartheid struggle we must mobilise all sectors of society against this scourge‚” Ramaphosa said.
“The Church must take responsibility‚ men must take responsibility and I must take responsibility. “By becoming agents of change‚ men can not only help liberate women from oppression but also liberate themselves as perpetrators of inhumane savagery‚” Ramaphosa added.
– TimesLIVE
Op-Ed: Education and policies are vital in fight against rape culture
The conversation about gender-based violence by no means began with #MenAreTrash. Many have been breaking the silence and resisting rape culture for decades, but their cries are too often brushed aside or mishandled. One such site of resistance and neglect is in universities. Even in the last few years we have seen numerous protests on campuses across the nation, including Rhodes, the Universities of the Witwatersrand, Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, Pretoria, and others. A common element in all the movements was a group of students and staff calling for much improved and less traumatic institutional responses to on-campus sexual violence.
