Blog - Page 10 of 21 - Rape Crisis

Why #CSW63 Matters

In our previous blog The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) we described how UN Member States, civil society organisations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss matters of importance for the rights of women across the world.

South Africa being a member state is represented by Minister in the Presidency responsible for Women, Bathabile Dlamini who leads a government and civil society delegation that includes Minister of Small Business Development, Lindiwe Zulu. The delegation will present South Africa’s report on the status of social protection system, access to public service, sustainable infrastructure for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls in South Africa. Minister Zulu will also participate in some of the ministerial roundtables, high level interactive dialogue and interactive expert panels.

19th March 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women

Advocacy

The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women. The CSW is instrumental in promoting women’s rights, documenting the reality of women’s lives throughout the world, shaping global standards on gender equality and the empowerment of women and in mainstreaming a gender perspective in UN activities.

During the Commission’s annual two-week session, representatives of UN Member States, civil society organisations and UN entities gather at UN headquarters in New York. They discuss progress and gaps in the implementation of the 1995 Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the key global policy document on gender equality as well as emerging issues that affect gender equality and the empowerment of women. Member States agree on further actions to accelerate progress and promote women’s enjoyment of their rights in political, economic and social fields.

18th March 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

Feminist Leadership

Making Change

Kathleen Dey, Director of Rape Crisis Cape Town Trust writes about feminist leadership.

7th March 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

The Roles of Feminism

Making Change

To do this a person should be able to delegate work appropriately and fairly, share relevant information, hold people accountable, clarify roles and responsibilities, involve teams in decisions and actions, and motivate and empower others, recognising and rewarding their contributions while trusting them to perform too.

3rd March 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

Get Involved Now.

Advocacy

A new year always provides the opportunity to take on new challenges. Perhaps you are inspired to be more active in bringing about social change, but don’t know how. Our social media followers often ask us how they can get more involved with the Rape Survivors Justice Campaign (RSJC), so we have drafted an easy step-by-step guide:
Ways to be more politically and socially active

The next time you are with family or friends, instead of letting conversation drift to idle chatter or celebrity gossip, discuss a particular cause that is close to your heart or that you feel strongly about.
Stay focussed on one cause. It is fine to take up many causes, but always recognise your main cause.
Find a political magazine, a local newspaper or an online blog and write for them on issues relating to your cause.
Organize a group of four or five people and attend protests together.
Talk to people that are different from you as a way to challenge stereotypes.

25th February 2019/0 Comments/by zaheed

A new Rape Crisis campaign hits close to home.

Advocacy, Road To Recovery

It is estimated that 40% of South African women will be raped in their lifetime and only 8.6% of rape perpetrators are convicted. Unfortunately, most people believe these rapes only occur in dark alleyways by hooded strangers. Rape Crisis’ new campaign reveals that the truth is a lot closer to home. 68% of rape survivors […]

21st February 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

Just Another Feminist [Valentines] Day

Advocacy

The 14th of February, doesn’t have to be celebrated in the traditional way

13th February 2019/0 Comments/by Sino

PRESS RELEASE: SONA 2019

Making Change

Presidential Commitment to support for Rape Survivors: A Victory
During the State of the Nation Address, delivered on 7 February 2019, President Cyril Ramaphosa more than once mentioned the issue of gender based violence. He confirmed that more funds will be dedicated to places of support, such as Thuthuzela Care Centres, and that government is working to ensure the better functioning of Sexual Offences courts. Funds must be made available to civil society organisations who already provide specialist support services to survivors to continue to deliver and expand these services. This will mean that more rape survivors can access justice and support services.

We are pleased that the President committed to work with partners in civil society to implement the decisions of the National Summit on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide which took place last year.
We believe that all survivors of sexual offences should have access to a specialised court. Rape Crisis Director Kathleen Dey says, “We believe that the culture of impunity for perpetrators of rape will be addressed by a stronger criminal justice system with support services, sexual offences courts and more prosecutions”.

8th February 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

Ramaphosa’s SONA and the issue of gender-based violence

Making Change

Cyril Ramaphosa will have to explain on Thursday how the state will give effect to majority party January 8 statement commitments in the light of a shrinking fiscus.

Gender-based violence made it into the January 8 statement of the majority party. And not just a mention – a relatively thorough and honest assessment of the state of women and girl children in South Africa, and in particular the unprecedented levels of abuse, violence and murder suffered by them. The president said “we must hang our heads in shame” at the state of gender-based violence and the patriarchal practices that give rise to it in the country.
Indeed. He also asked the men in the stadium to stand and make a commitment to end gender-based violence. Contrast this with no mention of gender-based violence at all in last year’s January 8 statement.

7th February 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog

I Believe Her: On the Power of Rape Survivors’ Voices

Advocacy

Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women. – Maya Angelou

I don’t know how women do it.

Every now and again, the veil is lifted on the quiet terror all women live with each day. A violent crime is brought into the public domain, and we have to look the worst effects of violent masculinity in the eye. Usually, there is a woman’s voice at the centre. She stands in maelstrom, sharing the details of her trauma, all the while knowing that she might not be believed or that she will almost certainly be victimised even further.

17th January 2019/0 Comments/by rapecrisisblog