Deputy Minister of Police Apologises over Hate Crimes
“Homophobia and hate crimes are unacceptable, and we are saying as ANC-led
government, enough is enough. We will and cannot tolerate that, some section of our
citizens continue to suffer in painful silence whilst their own Constitution protects them to
live the lifestyle they choose, lawfully.”
“…we have a duty to give true meaning to the fundamental principle our Constitution.”
Makhotso Sotyu being sworn in as Deputy Minister
of Police last year. (Pic: Government Communications)
She added: “Just like we bravely stood against the tyranny of apartheid, we must indeed together stand up to intolerance, discrimination and violence against diversity.”
“Homophobia and hate crimes are unacceptable, and we are saying as ANC-led government, enough is enough. We will and cannot tolerate that, some section of our citizens continue to suffer in painful silence whilst their own Constitution protects them to live the lifestyle they choose, lawfully.”
“…we have a duty to give true meaning to the fundamental principle our Constitution.”
She added: “Just like we bravely stood against the tyranny of apartheid, we must indeed together stand up to intolerance, discrimination and violence against diversity.”
For the full article please refer to:
http://www.mambagirl.com/article.asp?artid=6023
How to become a coach for CALBiA projects ?
We have actually a number of project applications that are evaluated by the CALBiA Decision Board. An essential part of the CALBiA concept is to provide a young entrepreneur (lesbian or transgender person) a possibility to interlock with a successful business women or men, who will provide advice in the start up phase of new entreprise. For this reason we are looking for volunteers who run own business and are willing to dedicate some time for CALBiA’s entrepreneurs. If you would like to become a coach for a CALBiA project, send an e-mail to office@calbia-foundation.org with short info about your business, where you are located and about your experience in coaching and mentoring. Through sharing your knowledge, you will contribute to the success of the young lesbian or transgender entrepreneur and so contribute to our work for more equal rights for LGBT community in Africa.
FEW and CALBiA signed partnership agreement
FEW is an acronym for Forum for the Empowerment of Women. The organisation was established in January 2002.
The Forum for the Empowerment of Women (FEW) is a national, Non- Profit Organisation based in Johannesburg, South Africa, which aims to articulate, advance, protect, promote the rights of black lesbian, bisexual and transgender women (LBT).
We are an organisation which believes in applying our values and commitment to human, women’s and LBT rights both in society and internally within the organisation. We are an activist and feminist organisation. We support and build the ability of LBT women to live and work as human rights defenders.
We view ourselves as an integral part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTi) sector, the feminist, women’s rights and human rights sectors. Our work, energy and resources are focused and deeply rooted in, informed and shaped by our constituency - LBT women.
Trans-fuzja Foundation
Trans-Fuzja Foundation http://transfuzja.org/en/artykuly.htm is devoted to a wide range of activities aimed to help the Polish transgender community. From supporting them with psychological help (both professional and self-help groups), legal advisory, through educating the public opinion on medical issues and structural definitions from the so-called “gender identity disorders” and also on the non-normative identities, free from the pathologizing medical discourse, to creating a real-life safe space for Polish trangender community.We cooperate on a regular basis with Polish LGBT organizations (such as Campaign Against Homophobia and Lambda Association) we also develop connection with international organizations. We’re a part of ILGA-Europe, TGEU, ANSO and partner of CALBiA Foundation, supporting projects with the focus on transgender entrepreneurs.
Luleki Sizwe – a Partner of CALBiA in common fight against ”corrective rape”
http://www.lulekisizwe.com/
Luleki Sizwe Objectives:
- To change the existing negative perception about lesbian, bi-sexual and transexual (LBT) women in our society
- Support and reach out to lesbians who have been forced from their homes due to their sexual orientation and HIV status
- To educate and empower lesbians about issues such as safe sex, healthy living, health programmes, sport, media, arts/ culture and human rights
- Raise awareness on social issues e.g. rape, sexual assault, discrimination
- Celebrate young and older lesbians through arts, drama and other forms of expression Fundraise necessary funds for different programs
- To create awareness around LBT human rights at a professional and social level
Lesbian defiant after stabbing
Noxolo Nkosana was stabbed four times in the back and shoulder in Crossroads because of her sexuality.
Noxolo Nkosana, who was stabbed by two men in Crossroads because, she says, she is a lesbian, is recovering at home with her family’s help. Nkosana was walking home on Friday evening with her partner and friends when she was attacked. Luleki Sizwe, a Gugulethu-based non-profit charity fighting against “corrective rape” of lesbians, is helping Nkosana with her case. The charity’s co-ordinator, Ndumie Funda, said last night that the attack was “out of the blue”.
“Two men, one from her own neighbourhood, advanced on Noxolo yelling:
‘You f****** lesbian, you f****** tomboy.’ The man Noxolo recognised stabbed her twice with a knife in the back. She fell and he stabbed her two more times,” Funda said.
As she felt, her girlfriend and friends went to her aid, some running into the nearest yard where they beat on the door, begging for help.
The second attacker, who she did not know, chased them with the knife, but fled when they were let into the house.
From there, the group arranged transport to take Nkosana to hospital. Funda said last night: “She’s in pain and at home with her family. She was lucky she didn’t get raped because she ran away. ”She was stabbed three times on the left side of her back, and once in the right shoulder.“ I know the one guy, but I don’t even talk to him. I don’t have a senseas to why they attacked me,” Nkosana told the Cape Argus.
On Friday, she decided not to open a case because she felt too weak. But on Saturday, her 65-year-old mother saw her daughter’s blouse “ripped and soaked in blood” and insisted that Nkosana open a case. On Saturday Funda took Nkosana to the Gugulethu police station, wherethey were told to first get a form from the clinic. But the doctors were off duty. They were told the form could be issued only tonight.
Nkosana said: “I want to lay charges against these guys. We should not be ashamed. We should not be afraid of the public.”
With the help of volunteers, Funda was able to get a police officer from the Gugulethu station to take Nkosana’s statement. A case was opened at the Nyanga station.
Funda said yesterday that the fact that Nkosana’s attackers had still not been arrested, an investigating officer had yet to be assigned, and “these men are still roaming her neighbourhood makes her stand even more courageous”. The police confirmed last night that a case had been opened, and said the investigating officer would come from the Nyanga police station.
source: IOL News:
http://www.iol.co.za/news/crime-courts/lesbian-defiant-after-stabbing-1.1082804
sibusiso.nkomo@inl.co.za – Cape Argus
GALA – Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action
The advancement, development and rights of LGBTI people depend on an accurate record and representation of their struggles. GALA mobilises memory by documenting and popularizing the lives and histories of LGBTI South Africans. In so doing it contributes to the development of pride, challenges homophobia and entrenches the rights of LGBTI people.
”People are dying as we speak” – interview with Ndumie Funda
Please read an interview in Guardian online with Ndumie Funda who is a chairperson of Luleki Sizwe, an organization partnering with CALBiA
in common efforts for more respect and equality rights for lesbian women in Africa.
Ndumie initiated and is actually negotiatining with representatives of the South African government the legislation against ”corrective rape” practice
http://mg.co.za/article/2011-05-06-people-are-dying-as-we-speak
How to apply for the CALBiA support ?
Your Business Idea – Your Dedication – Your RESPECT
If you are lesbian woman or transgender person living in Africa and
have a business idea which you would like to implement with support of CALBiA Foundation,
you can contact us sending an e-mail to office@calbia-foundation.org.
The CALBiA representative will contact you and provide further info.
Our support is focused on young entrepreneurs who want implement a business idea,
are determined and committed to work hard for it.
Possible CALBiA support:
- evaluation of the business idea
- consulting and help in establishing the business plan
- coaching and mentoring through experienced and successful entrepreneur
- analysis of market for
- purchase of materials and infrastructure for production (within the available CALBiA budget)
- promotion of your products through our global network
We are making progress
SOUTH AFRICA SPECIFIC ITEM:
LETTER/UPDATE FROM
Gail Eddy
Parliamentary Liaison OfficerConsortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa
Tel: 021 465 6317
Cell: 083 501 8761
_______________________________________________
Dear colleagues,
I am reporting back from the meeting this week with the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development regarding the setting up of a Task Team to combat violence against the LGTBI community.
It was a really successful meeting. The Department stuck to their own timelines and gave us feedback as promised. They have put together a high level national Task Team from the JCPS cluster that has been mandated by the Development Committee of the DoJ (which is responsible for seeing that the Department meets its obligations in line with their service delivery agreements with the Presidency) to investigate and implement measures to deal with the problems raised by the LGTBI community. This Task Team is made up of representatives from the DoJ, NPA, Department of Social Development, SAPS, Legal Aid SA, and some Judiciary members. They have already met twice to come up with the draft implementation plan, and stressed on numerous occasions that this is getting attention at the highest levels as a matter of priority.
The measures they have come up with include:
- The particular needs of the LGTBI community need to be addressed. This will be done through a situational analysis that the DoJ will conduct.
This situational analysis will involve communities at a grass roots level, police, and government departments. This will be made available to all once it has been completed.
- There needs to be public awareness of human rights as set out in Section 9 of the Constitution. The DoJ is already speaking with the GCIS about conducting a widespread public awareness campaign about the rights of LGTBI.
This will include public service announcements, banners, posters, fliers etc.
- The DoJ recognised the need to strengthen the implementation of existing legislation, as well as the need to see what works and what doesn’t. This includes the Criminal Law Amendment Act and the Sexual Offenses Act. They are looking at how sentencing can be increased due to aggravating circumstances. On a legislative side, they will look at whether any amendments need to be made to legislation. They are also looking at the use of the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act.
- They are looking at the issue of ‘secondary victimisation’ of by police and other service providers, as well as victimisation at a local level.
They are looking at the need for sensitization training which is linked to an awareness campaign to ensure that the message is disseminated widely.
However, they also need a better understanding of what secondary victimisation in this context is, and how it is experienced. Interaction with NGOs will be very helpful here.
- They recognised the need for statistics to record how widespread issues of corrective rape, or violence against the LGTBI community is.
They will start by doing internal research on current cases , and contacting court managers.
- On a short term basis, if their are any cases that people are experiencing problems with, whether it be discrimination by the police, or delayed court cases, they can contact the Director of Child Justice and Family Law: Mrs Corlia Kok on 012 315 1259 or ckok@justice.gov.za.
She has promised to forward these cases to the relevant people for immediate assistance.
- They are also discussing how to record instances of corrective rape at police stations – whether this would ‘out’ individuals and infringe on their privacy? This is something that needs to be discussed further with the NGOs.
- There is also an awareness of LGTBI community been seen as ‘unAfrican’
or ‘against religious beliefs’. A long term strategy will be to talk to traditional leaders and church leaders to address these issues.
- Policy needs to be created as well. The situational analysis will lead to the recommendations on policy for the courts and the justice system as a whole. This will also have to be appropriately budgeted for – and budgets for this will be prioritised.
- They welcome any input with regards to the development of Hate Crimes Legislation.
Gaps in this strategy were pointed out by some NGO representatives that were present. However, the main purpose of the meeting was to create the Task Team that will decide on the approaches to the above strategy, and make the appropriate changes and additions. The Task Team will be made up of 6 members from the JCPS cluster as mentioned above, and 6 members from civil society.
Civil society groups that were at this meeting will meet again on 10th May to confirm the make up of the civil society representation. I advocated for the inclusion of the HCWG, which was accepted, particularly as we are a network with a national focus.
Overall, I am so heartened by this meeting. The DoJ has responded more positively than I ever expected.
Also importantly, I was told that the DoJ welcomes any submissions regarding Hate Crimes legislation. I was told again that they are in the process of developing this. I was given the contact details of the correct person to speak to: Advocate Laurence Bassett, Chief Director:
Legislation Development, 012 315 1463, lbassett@justice.gov.za. From his telephone number it seems as if he is based in Pretoria, so perhaps HCWG members in Joburg/Pretoria could set up a meeting with him? As I said, he will apparently welcome submissions, so this is a great opportunity for us!
Wozani is contacting Adv Bassett to try and find out where the Department is with regards to the Hate Crimes Bill. I’m sure she will report back on this shortly, and the process of engagement can happen from then.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Kind regards,
Gail Eddy
Parliamentary Liaison Officer
Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa
Tel: 021 465 6317
Cell: 083 501 8761
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