UN chief pushes for the recognition of rape as a form of genocide

Finally a high-level recognition that this has got to stop. The stats in the article (you can read this article here) are only part of the story in this horrific epidemic of sexual violence.

Sexual violence has become endemic. It forms part of the structure of national identity - either as something ignored (as seems to be the case in the DRC) as part of societal functioning (keeping women in their place or having men's needs satisfied), or as something that is feared and constantly at the forefront of people's mind as it is quite literally lurking behind every corner. In the former case, rape has often not even been tackled for the problem that it is. However, all the thinking around the topic in the latter case has left us with very little in the way of actually tackling this problem.

Rapists walk free, are let off or are given light sentences because of 'evidence problems' or questions about the credibility of the rape survivor. Judges are ill-equipped or lack the will to make the decision to take a stand against this deplorable performance of sick masculinities.

Ban Ki Moon has called for greater penalties for rapists. This is important for high level thought patterns around the topic. Without these thoughts, our action to support rape survivors is denied legitimacy. But we have a bigger job than just thinking.

Our job then is to begin to tackle thought patterns on the ground, in our offices and in our workplaces. It is to support women in our offices, education centres and friendship circles who are surviving domestic rape, are subject to sexual harassment because they are beautiful, are subject to hostility because of their sexuality or are simply considered lesser than because they are women.

It is our job to destroy the silences after a sexist joke, and ensure the uncomfortability of the jester.

It is our job to question the friend who is accused of rape, and not accept that he is falsely accused just because 'he is such a nice person'. Be blunt - ask him, and assess for yourself the truth of his answer based not on his personality but on the facts.

Our job is to challenge men to come to the table and discuss these issues, and to allow us all to discuss issues that they may feel are only part of 'masculinity' together, and with constructive criticism.

Our job is to challenge our political leaders to lead; to lead the struggle against sexual violence without acquiescing to its inevitability. To hold them accountable to statements and not allow the echoes of the empty promises to protect women to ring in our ears any longer.

To quote a popular song - "It's time to make a choice...raise your voice, raise it now".

zuma promises smooth transition - anybody scared?

Jacob Zuma promises a smooth transition between the current ANC government and the one that will follow after the results of the 2009 election.

Is anyone else afraid?

The status quo is less than desirable and with the pre-election opinion polls showing that the ANC will win majority (Julius Malema believes this could even be a 'three-thirds' majority, somebody please help him) I'm not convinced that we want a smooth transition. He claims the ANC has 'done what is necessary' to secure its mandate, but I'm more concerned that they've done too much or too little.

Done too much 'damage': In the past five years it has begun to become embarrassing to be led by the ANC government. A Mail and Guardian article interviewing members of the Constantia Uitsig public stated that one of the ANC posters in the area had been defaced to read 'Together we can do more damage'. I think they have it right. To begin, the leadership of the ANC has been radically overhauled and they have done little or no leading. Their current leader has been charged with both rape and corruption, and both attempts at charging him have been unsuccessful. Whether this is as a result of his innocence (though to me it appeared quite clearly as a case of cold feet on the part of our justice system) or not, Zuma's attitude and comments on both of these matters were deplorable. In the rape case Zuma made several embarrassing comments, which illustrated both his lack of understanding of the HIV/AIDS crisis in South Africa and his lack of commitment to the constitutional values of gender equality. Furthermore, he allowed his supporters to get away with verbal incitements of violence against his accuser. All this without apology and without the acknowledgement that he had a responsibility to promote support of rape survivors and encourage learning about HIV/AIDS. These duties remain unacknowledged and unfulfilled today, despite our growing culture of violence against women and continued stigma surrounding HIV.

Similarly, it appears that his attitude towards corruption is equally nonchalant. Today on e-news he was questioned about the 'cloud of suspicion' that continues to surround him. His response was (apologies if it is not exactly correct) 'what cloud?I have never seen a cloud surrounding me'. I am hoping, that this was a case of dodging the bullet by attempting to make a joke, rather than his lack of understanding of what the journo was asking. But one can never be sure.

Done too little to ensure people's rights: The same Mail and Guardian article (headline: Zuma promises smooth transtion) sees Zuma stating "we reiterate that we will use our majority responsibly and will not ride roughshod over the rights of the people, or bulldoze other parties into submission." I am not sure where Mr Zuma thinks his responsibilities lie, and I would love to find out.

What about the rights of women?, the taxpayer?, young children? Women continue to be the target of violent crime and South Africa has the highest rape rate in the world, with its victims and survivors spanning all ages, races and ethnicities. How will Zuma, himself 'culturally' unable (read unwilling) to vocalise these women's right to security, ensure that power will be used responsibly. The corruption trial against him cost the South African taxpayers millions of Rands. How will these taxes be better used by someone unable to manage his own money? The past few years have seen our education system return to a sad state of affairs with many matric students having to teach themselves due to lack of staff and poor spending on the part of provincial governments. How will Zuma encourage his government to better spend?

I am aware that a party is more than its leader. And I am aware that a government is made up of more than one party. But I am afraid for South Africa on the cusp of elections. I am not encouraged by the clouds surrounding Zuma, and I am more concerned that his vision is so tinted by his own power that he cannot see them himself.

picture: www.news24.com
mail and guardian article accessbile from www.mg.co.za