South Africa

The Non-Profit Sector Provides Sustainable Solutions Where Business Fails

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 09:35:18 +0200

Entrepreneurship has a key role in society, not least in business which exists for profit. But business cannot do everything. It is the non-profit sector (NPO), however, that has the edge in working for the interests of you and me, the ordinary people in the community. So why does business criticise civil society for not operating like a business.

Along with an obsession about measuring the impact of organisations; the attempted application of King III principles to the nonprofit sector; the emergence of rating agencies to advise donors which organisations are good or bad (against business standards) and complaints about salaries paid to non-profit personnel, there seems to be a misunderstanding of the role of civil society and the contribution it makes to our lives.

Lest there be any misunderstanding, I must stress that I am not against business or entrepreneurship. So why am I writing about this?

Firstly, while business is a key component of our society and provides jobs and services, there is a great deal that business cannot do.

Secondly, I am tired of people making assumptions about the civil society sector so that organisations are only seen through the prism of ‘charity’. There are thousands of civil society organisations and very few are just ‘charities’.

Charity implies giving to the needy – providing for the immediate needs of destitute people. Although there are organisations that do this and play an important role, most NGOs run programmes that do not just alleviate needs, but also transform people’s lives. These are development organisations – not charities.

And thirdly, the critique that somehow ‘charities’ need to function like businesses is unreasonable. Nonprofits cannot be run like businesses – their whole reason for being is not about profit and production, but about social change. Their trustees or board members do not earn directors’ emoluments; they do their work for social benefit.

Running a non-profit is as complex, and probably more complex, than running a business because of issues of accountability to a wide range of stakeholders – their board, beneficiaries, donors and the public. There are multiple layers of nuanced relationships and networks on which every non-profit relies for success. It has far less control on its outcomes than a for-profit as it is dependent on people and relationships outside the organisation, from funding through to social impact.

It’s time to move on from the antediluvian concept of ‘charity’ as the notion that some rich man’s wife is running a ‘help group’ to keep her busy and therefore charity leaders should not receive fair pay for their work. And it must be said that excessive salaries are not nearly as common as in business. In fact it is hard to conceive how one can even compare non-profit salaries with the business sector.

The latter usually offers attractive financial perks such as share options, massive retirement packages, company cars, entertainment allowances. Reports abound of executives who leave their jobs with fat cat ‘bonuses’, let alone those who receive payout deals to cover up their wrongdoing or as part of the political power play. It is thus astonishing that business people feel they can pontificate on how non-profits should be run.

In contrast, the way business is practised has led to some of the key problems in the world.

Two of these, poverty and climate, are based on the concept of extraction, a business principle. Thanks to this, our earth is warming and millions of people have been marginalised and abused with the resultant poverty that is overwhelming us, aggravated by the financial crisis with its genesis in questionable banking practices globally.

Justifiably it can be asked what happens if a non-profit abuses its funding? The abuse of funds can never be defended and organisations must account for their expenditure and income to donors and stakeholders. However, in comparison to business this is small change. We have just seen the massive corruption in banks and financial services companies, the bedrock of business, which led to the global recession. Are these the practices that the non-profit sector is being asked to emulate?

Against this civil society can cite significant achievements, done without using business principles. Amongst these are the abolition of slavery (opposed by business), the environmental movement (derided by business as tree huggers), the right to ARV treatment in South Africa and the women’s movement, not forgetting the pressure on the SA government to change in the 1970s and 1980s.

The belief that those days are over is naive. Who will protect the freedom of the press, who will protect our human rights, who will continue to push the women’s agenda when it has fallen off government’s programme, who will stand against violence against children and who will campaign against global warming? Who is working with the poor to ensure that business people can sleep safe and sound? Not business. Its role remains profit. Where social responsibility has become a part of operations, it is a side-show and not its core business.

So is the non-profit sector just an easy scapegoat, maybe because civil society holds business and government to account?

Non-profits are not just the sum total of their service delivery, but have a social, economic and political role to play. This doesn’t fit the neat little concept of ‘charity’, but is the reality of what is a dynamic and innovative sector doing the non-extractive work of our world. These are not “charities”, but organisations society cannot do without.

They are not making profit, but they are working for your and my interests. We should be thankful they exist. Without them, societies descend into darkness.

This Article is published on Ngopulse (www.ngopulse.org) - Shelagh Gastrow is executive director at Inyathelo – the South African Institute for Advancement. This article first appeared in the Cape Argus newspaper.

Pants Down For Safer Sex

nthateng — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 11:04:57 +0200

Cape Town Men irrespective of their sexual orientation will be baring it all in front of a camera at the: Taking a Risk for Safer Sex exhibition, organized by Health4Men, a non-profit organisation that provides free healthcare to men, including access to ARV treatment at the Ivan Toms Centre for Men’s Health in Woodstock.

The event is a follow-up of last year successful exhibition which rose over R40 000 from auctioning the photographs which were taken. Glenn de Swardt, Psychosocial Director for health4men said that, “the exhibition was so successful that it was decided that it becomes an annual event. He added “the 2009 exhibition raised much awareness about the need to address sexual health among primary gay and bisexual men.

“Society emphasizes bodily beauty, but many men continue to place their bodies at risk of HIV and other sexual infections. We encourage men to pose naked, this represents a risk and challenges our bodily inhibitions. It is also confronts us with risks we expose our bodies to. By appreciating our bodies, we may be less inclined to expose them to risks”, he said.

De Swardt however emphasized that, the exhibition features nudity but is not in any way pornography and that by placing images of naked men in a public space “we attempt to take our sexuality out of the closet.

“We can only address our sexual health risk when we can consider and talk about our own sexuality in a comfortable manner.

The theme this year is: Sport and De Swardt said that, “people can expect to see balls, bats, rackets, spandex, Speedos, jockstraps, gym gear and men engaged in diverse sport-related poses.

“We have three professional photographers, one of whom is an internationally acclaimed porn actor (Buck Rogers), said De Swardt. Having a porn actor behind the camera, as opposed to in front of, adds a further dimension to the exhibition.

The exhibition will be on display from 1 July 2010 at Café Manhattan in Green point, a popular restaurant and pub located in Cape Town’s gay village area. And anyone, irrespective of race, age, build is welcomed to take part in the photo shoot.

“We want the exhibition to reflect the full diversity of Cape Town men”, concluded De Swardt.

For more information please contact Renaldo on: 021 425 6463.

Article by: Lesego Tlhwale (Behind the Mask Intern)

How Religious Leaders Fuel Homophobia In Burundi

nthateng — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 10:37:24 +0200

Religious leaders and organisations have greatly fuelled homophobia in Burundi. These are the findings of a report titled Religion and homophobia, released recently by the Movement for Individual Freedoms (MOLI), a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) organisation in Burundi.

The report states that religious leaders, by uttering hate speech against homosexuals and by describing homosexuality with words such as “ignoble practices”, “abnormality”, or “practices against nature”, have knowingly “contributed in fuelling homophobia in a country where homosexuals are already struggling to live peacefully with their families and the general community due to unacceptance and discrimination.”

In order to assess the role played by religious groups when the anti homosexuality bill was proposed and promulgated MOLI interviewed the leaders and one of them Monsignor Justin Nzoyisaba from the United Methodist Church, in the report, was quoted saying “homosexuality is indeed an illness, a vice introduced in Africa by westerners.”

On Desmond Tutu’s support to the fight for LGBTI people and rights, Nzoyisaba said “South Africans are like European people. They have reached a negative stage of development because they are deviating from biblical and African moral values.”

Monsignor Eli Buconyori, Bishop of the Free Methodist Church of Burundi pointed out that “It depends on what Tutu does himself,” and he believes that “homosexuality is a spiritual illness.”

In March 2009, during the national day of protest against homosexuality organised by the ruling party, the National Council for the Defence of Democracy, The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Burundi released a statement in which it denounced “those who support ‘that practice’ under the pretext that homosexuality can be congenital”.

The statement further called “people not to promote homosexuality under the pretext of respecting people dignity and the freedom”

A member of The Good Shepherd Church explained that “Scriptures are very clear on which relations are acceptable. God has created a man and a woman to be together. Even though homosexual relations do exist, they are aimless because the main objective of a couple is to procreate. Homosexual practices are therefore unbiblical and against nature. ”

Meanwhile a young Muslim affirmed that homosexuality is “an illness one gets between 2 and 4 years-old.”

He said mothers usually know if their children have homosexual tendencies or not and that they must bring it to the attention of religious leaders in order for those children to be well taken care of,”

For Christian Rumu, Executive Director of MOLI, this is not surprising.

“More than 98 % of Burundians are believers and the majority of them are country people with lack of education. This usually leads to groundless interpretations of scriptures and a blind faith in what religious leaders say.”

“When the anti homosexuality bill was proposed, religious leaders cashed in on the situation and encouraged the government to maintain the disposition that criminalises homosexuality.”

Rumu vowed that MOLI will challenge the section 567 of the penal code that criminalizes homosexuality.

“It is important to withdraw that disposition from the penal code to avoid the resulting loss of safety and protection for LGBTI people. We will challenge this law before the constitutional court,” he explains.

He added, “We are working closely with organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Ligue Iteka and Lawyers without Borders. We also have the support of several European embassies. We will start our campaign in January 2011.”

“What is most difficult for us is to find leaders to engage with. Things are moving slowly but soon we will engage the debate between civil society and religious leaders on the issue of homosexuality” he concluded.

The Movement for Individual Freedoms (MOLI) is an organisation that aims to promote the rights of LGBTI people in Burundi and in the Great Lakes area. They focus on trainings, education and awareness campaigns on the rights and health of LGBTI people.

Its next report will focus on violence against homosexuals within the family circle.

Article by: Jerina Chendeze Messie (Behind the Mask French Reporter)

Ugandan Citizen Journalists Among The Top Ten In The E-Learning Phote Competition

maureen — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:34:16 +0200

The recently concluded e-Learning Africa 2010 Photo Competition saw two Ugandan citizen Journalist featuring among the top ten finalist taking up the 4th and 6th position. The photo competition aimed at finding out "How ICTs Are Changing the Way We Live". To know what this has meant for the African continent and to learn more about how digital media (mobile phones, the Internet, computers, radio and the audio-visual) have changed the lives of the people in Africa who use them in their day-today work.(Digital citizens).

More than 100 images were submitted during the competition that lasted for months and only the top ten were chosen and presented.

Ugandan took five of the ten top positions, with two of the TOP ten coming from WOUGNET Staff Members (Ssozi Javie and Maureen Agena in the 4th and 6th positions respectively).
The TOP 10 photos :
•   Will be featured in an exhibition from May 26th – 28th at eLearning Africa 2010 in Lusaka, Zambia
•   Have been announced on the eLearning Africa website: http://www.elearning-africa.com/picturevoting_home.php
•   will also be part of the next eLearning Africa Newsletter, which is distributed to thousands of people in Africa and all over the world (mail out: Thursday, May 20).
•   will be part of the eLA photo book and handed out to high-level conference participants.

HOW CITIZEN JOURNALISM INFLUENCED OUR POSTIONS

Being one of the country focal for the Citizen Journalism in Africa (CJA) project, Women of Uganda Netwok (WOUGNET) was privileged to participate in the two year recently concluded project which targeted Citizen Journalists in six African countries of Uganda, SouthAfrica, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. With support from SANGONeT and Hivos, several trainings were conducted in the mentioned countries and Uganda was not an exception.

Among the trained citizen Journalists in Uganda, Maureen Agena and Javie Ssozi from Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) were among those specifically trained as trainers. Photography was a major subject matter in all the CJA trainings and this improved on our photography skills. We also learnt about writing skills and how to describe scenes, situations and pictures. BROSDI is the second Country Focal point in Uganda for the CJA project. The key trainers were Brett Davidson, Mathew De Gale and Noma Rangana all from SouthAfrica. With these skills there was no doubt that we would fail to participate and either win or be among the winners. For details about CJA please visit: http://www.citizenjournalismafrica.org

HOW WE FEEL ABOUT THE FINAL RESULTS

Javie Ssozi: I am thrilled that I made it in the Top 10. The participants submitted very powerful photos and this made it even more competitive and interesting. This is a very good initiative that promotes citizen journalism in Africa and most of all shows how ICTs have improved livelihoods around the continent.

Maureen Agena: I feel that the Citizen Journalism trainings I received from the Hivos and SANGONeT team were not in vain, because out of Over 100 photos submitted, mine was the 6th best/relevant photo. Thanks to SANGONeT and Hivos for trusting the power and ability of Citizen Journalists like me. Thanks to the e-learning team that thought of such an innovative competition and for giving us the opportunity to participate. And to all those who voted, thanks for believing in me and seeing the relevance of the photo I submitted.

CONCLUSION

It was a competition worth participating in, because it was the first of its kind especially by the e-learning team. It was interesting and yet challenging but as the saying goes, everything has to eventually come to an end. To all the top ten participants, well done and well won and to the rest of the participants, keep the fire burning with the use and application of technology in all your undertakings. To my fellow Ugandans who participated, thanks for scooping five of the top ten positions. Good luck and enjoy the conference on e-learning.

It's Time for LGBTI People to Affirm Their African-ness

nthateng — Tue, 11 May 2010 15:58:34 +0200

SOUTH AFRICA: It is time for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Africans to affirm and assert their Africanness, said Zakhele Mbhele as the Joburg Pride revealed the theme for this year’s event titled We are all African.

Mbhele, Chairperson of Joburg Pride, said the theme was inspired by continuing acts of intolerance towards LGBTI Africans.

“From arrests and detention of gay Malawians and Swazis, the Anti-Homosexuality Bill in Uganda, the refusal by Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai to consider a discussion on the rights of lesbian and gay people as part of the constitution redraft process, to the general, ill conceived notion that homosexuality is un-African or a Western import”, he said.

Mbhele added that sexual diversity is a normal aspect of the human spectrum and that it should be accepted on the continent as part of the rich tapestry of cultural, religious, ethnic and linguistic diversity.

According to organizers, this year’s offering of the annual 2010 Joburg Pride is set to bring to the fore all LGBTI human rights violations across Africa and will be a platform for LGBTI people to claim their space in society.

Dating back two decades ago and being the first Pride Parade to take place in Africa, Joburg Pride began in 1990 and has grown over the years, drawing spectators from around the globe.

Joburg Pride has also announced new changes. Mbele said the parade will be starting an hour earlier than usual at 10am so that there will be more time to have fun and enjoy the event.

“Working in close partnerships with our sister event, Soweto Pride, we’re hoping to promote and roll out a compelling community programme in partnership with other LGBTI organisations.”

Commenting on violations of LGBTI people’s rights throughout Africa Mbele said, “I think the work of LGBTI and other human rights organisations needs to continue and to be increasingly supported in terms of public education and awareness-raising, LGBTI targeted service provision, mainstreaming and advocacy for legal and policy reform”, he said.

Boasting a tagline “Pride for Africa” the 2010 Joburg Gay Pride will take place at Zoo Lake Sports Club on Saturday, 2 October 2010.

Article by: Mongezi Mhlongo (Behind The Mask Senior Reporter)

Xingwana Calls for Debate on Sexual Orientation and Arts

nthateng — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:24:58 +0200

SOUTH AFRICA: National arts and culture Minister Lulu Xingwana has called on South African gay rights groups to initiate a discussion around issues of sexual orientation and arts, following her walking out of an exhibition showing lesbian images last year, a move strongly criticised by human rights groups and individuals as homophobic.

Xingwana denies that she left the exhibition because of the sexual orientation of the people in the images.

"I was not aware of the sexual orientation of the picture or the artists and my reaction was not based on anti-gay sentiments as implied in some media reports on the matter", Xingwana said in an open statement to the media.

Her Spokesperson Siphiwo Matshoba also emphasized that the minister solely found the pictures offensive.

"The whole issue was a gross misunderstanding, the media were quick to judge and based it around homophobia, which it was not."

He added, "The minister advices that these issues be brought to table and be debated as social issues. The media has been one sided when it came to reporting the story, so a public debate would definitely bring about dialogue about issues of art, pornography and where to draw the line between the two."

"We believe that the debate is overdue and that now it is the time to unfold these issues. The ministry's door is open to anyone wishing to start up a debate regarding these matters, whether it is an individual, an institution, a society or organisations", Matshoba concluded.

Xingwana allegedlly walked out at the Innovative Women exhibition, were she was invited to give an opening speech last year.

Reports say "the minister took one look at the exhibition, called it porn and walked out." Xingwana later told the media that the pictures were "immoral, offensive and going against nation- building."

The Innovative Women exhibition, which opened at the Constitution Hill in August last year and has since toured both Cape Town and Durban, was a showcase for a group of female artists from across South Africa to display their work including Zanele Muholi, known for her controversial images portraying experiences of black lesbians in South Africa.

LGBTI organizations were repulsed by the minster’s reaction, saying that her actions are likely to promote hatred and hate crimes against lesbians and other sexual minorities in the country.

Article By: Lesego Tlhwale (Behind The Mask Intern)

New Show to Tackle Homosexuality in Black Communities

nthateng — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:40:07 +0200

SOUTH AFRICA: A stage play aiming to tackle intolerance of gay people in black communities and churches starts at Windy Brow Theatre on 11th March 2010.

Titled: Like Cain and Abel, the production of the play was encouraged by the lack of acceptance of bisexual and gay people in black communities.

"Homosexuals are not accepted, they are always labeled and given names that describe their sexuality in negative terms," said Thapelo Motloung, writer and director of the play.

He added, "The production attempts to create an atmosphere that one must not judge the other person because we all have our own faults."

The play is centered around two brothers who meet on a church chamber on the wedding day of the other. When the one brother who is supposed to be getting married comes out as gay, drama unfolds also triggered by the fact that he is the son of a homophobic priest.

Motloung explains that with the play he wants to create dialogue about homosexuality within churches and challenge religious leaders who say homosexuality is ungodly.

"I want people, after watching the play, to go back home and talk about these issues with their families and also evaluate their stance on homosexuality," he added.

Motloung wishes to take the play on a national tour "because I feel that issues of homosexuality are a national issue and should not only be tackled in Gauteng," he said.

Thapelo Motloung has written and directed well known stage plays including; Sins of a man, Maru, and Julius Caesar.

Like Cain and Abel is a complex and emotional portrayal of betrayal, hatred, forgiveness and family ties.

It will be showing at Windy-brow Main Theatre in Hillbrow on Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm, and on Sundays at 3pm. Tickets cost R45 on weekdays and R55 on Fridays to Sundays, and are available at Computicket or at the door.

For more information call: 011 720 7009.

Article by: Lesego Tlhwale (Behind The Mask Intern).

Academic institutions discuss homosexuality in Kenya

nthateng — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:05:47 +0200

Despite arrests presently rocking the Kenyan gay community, human rights institutions recently held the first ever public lecture on sexual minority rights aiming to address the rights of gays, lesbians and bisexuals among students and members of faculties of different academic institutions in Kenya.

Organised by, among others, UHAI - The East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative and Akiba Uhaki Foundation in conjunction with the Kenyan Human Rights Commission (KHRC) and the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya (GALCK), the lecture was also open to interested members of society.

"The purpose of the public lecture was to move the conversation on sexual minority rights from acrimonious rhetoric to conscientious and reasoned discourse that is buttressed by the understanding of the inalienability of the human rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual person," said Happy Mwende Kinyili, Programmes assistant at UHAI.

Mwende added, "We wanted to openly and honestly create a safe space to discuss an issue that is often limited to sound bites and minimal information, and through this, to highlight the specific issues that are at stake and how to begin to address the deep questions of human rights violations posed."

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and all human rights are universal, interdependent, indivisible and interrelated, was the theme of the lecture. The talk also hoped to "point out the human face of this issue that is often treated as an issue with no human element, with a view to reduce the violations and stigma suffered by Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual individuals in Kenya".

"While the rights discussed were specifically those of lesbian, gay and bisexuals, we do hope to extend the conversation to include questions of transphobia and other aspects of sexual minorities' rights, often ignored and misunderstood," Mwende concluded.

Article by: Lesego Tlhwale (BTM Intern)

OUT Launches "Know Your Status Day"

nthateng — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:25:40 +0200

While South Africa remains one of the countries with highest HIV prevalence rates, gay rights organisations are doing their bit to curb the spread of the syndrome and to ensure that people know their statuses.

OUT LGBT Well-being, a gay health rights organisation in Pretoria, has initiated a campaign called “Know Your Status Day”, which it hopes will effectively respond to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The aim of “Know Your Status Day” is to increase the need for people to go for regular HIV testing, says OUT. “Although we are targeting lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people, the day is aimed at promoting HIV/AIDS testing across identities, so we will not turn heterosexual clients away”, said Elmie Munday, Prism HIV and STI nurse at OUT LGBT Well-being.

“Know Your Status Day” is a monthly event.

Statistics show that currently, South Africa has the largest population living with the disease, with more than 5 million people infected. According to UNAIDS, people fail to get tested for HIV because of various reasons such as fear of stigma and discrimination, and Munday thinks educating mainstream service-providers will go a long way.

“The LGBTI community still experiences stigma issues regarding their sexual preferences. If you were to be HIV positive and gay or lesbian, you would experience double the stigma. The way forward is be to make service-providers LGBTI sensitive by means of giving sensitisation workshops and marketing services as LGBTI friendly”, she concluded.

For more information about the “Know Your Status Day”, visit www.out.org.za

Article by: Mongezi Mhlongo (Behind The Mask Senior Reporter)

Call to Support Suspended Lesbian Minister

nthateng — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:13:51 +0200

SOUTH AFRICA: Supporters of suspended Minister of the Methodist Church of Southern Africa (MCSA), Ecclesia de Lange, are confident that her appeal against the verdict forcing her to “continue under suspension”, for marrying a female partner, will be successful.

Since the Methodist Church only recognises marriage between heterosexuals, de Lange was suspended immediately when she announced her marriage to her wife in December.

She appeared before the District Disciplinary Committee of the MCSA on 12 January, where she was found guilty of “failing to observe the provisions of the laws and disciplines and all other policies, decisions, practices and usages of the Church,” by getting married to a female partner and for allegedly not consulting her Superintendent and the Bishop. She was also sentenced to “continue under suspension until such time that the MCSA makes a binding decision on ministers in same-sex unions.”

De Lange lodged an appeal against the verdict and sentence of the District Disciplinary Committee, to be heard on Monday the 8 February in Bedfordview. The Facebook group formed to support the minister has called on the gay community to join and create awareness about the issue.

They also called for “a large group to gather outside the Bedfordview venue for an hour in a dignified and peaceful manner to show their support.”

“We want our church to be as inclusive as possible”, said Reverend Jenny Sprong of the MCSA Durban.

The creator of de Lange’s Facebook, group Andrew Treu said, “We have arranged activities around the country on the day and we are asking you to commit yourself to attend one of these activities.” Some of these planned activities include the Bedfordview show of solidarity and support, a Cape Town service of solidarity and witness, and prayer vigils in Port Elizabeth and Durban.

Glynis Stokes, Director of the Methodist Church's administration office in Durban, refused to comment on the matter. Attempts to get a comment from the MCSA Bishop’s office were also fruitless.

Article by: Mongezi Mhlongo (Behind The Mask Senior Reporter)

African Civil Society Organisations Condemn Criminal Prosecution In Malawi Same-Sex Case And Call For Repeal Of Discriminatory L

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:07:53 +0200

Over forty African civil society organizations, in a statement released on the 28th of January 2010, expressed their deep concern at the imprisonment and prosecution of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga under provisions of Malawi's penal code criminalizing private sexual behavior. They called on the Malawian government to drop all charges against both individuals and repeal the discriminatory criminal law.

On 28 December, police officers arrested Monjeza and Chimbalanga at their home, charging them under sections 153 and 156 of the Malawian penal code for "unnatural offences" and "indecent practices between males." This happened two days after Monjeza and Chimbalanga conducted a traditional engagement ceremony, an event that was widely reported in the Malawian press. Chimbalanga was forced to undergo a medical examination to determine whether they had engaged in sexual intercourse, and both were subjected to a psychiatric evaluation.

They have been denied bail and remain in custody. The group of endorsers, which includes organizations from over a dozen African countries, warned that such criminal prosecution would greatly undermine efforts to respond effectively to the HIV pandemic, stating:

"The charges against Monjeza and Chimbalanga have caused a widespread fear among persons engaged in same-sex relations-a group the Malawian government has recognized is vulnerable to discrimination and critical to its efforts to effectively respond to the HIV epidemic."

According to media reports Dr. Mary Shawa, the Principal Secretary for Nutrition, HIV and AIDS in the Malawian President's Office recently acknowledged the need to "incorporate a human rights approach in the delivery of HIV and AIDS services to...men who have sexual intercourse with men." She further asked men who have sex with men [MSM] to come out in the open in order to assist in HIV prevention efforts.

The statement warns that "This cannot be done given recent statements by governmental officials denouncing MSM, which has served to further drive this already vulnerable community further underground."

Discrimination against men who have sex with men has increasingly raised public health concerns in the African region, where HIV rates among this group are up to ten times that of the general population in large part because they are systematically marginalised in HIV prevention and treatment interventions due to politically driven hostility. United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has previously warned that such discrimination is unethical and "makes no sense from
a health perspective".

The statement which was also supported by almost twenty additional individuals and international civil society organizations further highlighted how sections 153 and 156 of the penal code violated fundamental rights guaranteed under the Malawi Constitution, including the rights to be free from discrimination and human dignity.

Undule D.K. Mwakasungula, the Executive Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation in Malawi, stressed that "HIV and human rights cannot be separated. We need our governments to support progressive approaches to health that are not based on prejudiced
notions of morality, but on evidence-based responses to the reality in
our region."

For further information please contact:
Undule D.K. Mwakasungula, + 265 999 664 176, Centre for Human Rights
and Rehabilitation (CHRR), Malawi
Michaela Clayton, +264 81 127 2367, AIDS & Rights Alliance for
Southern Africa (ARASA), Namibia
Priti Patel, +27 76 808 0505, Southern Africa Litigation Centre
(SALC), South African/a

IGLHRC cautions against hasty judgements in Lesbian murder case

nthateng — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:59:14 +0200

SWAZILAND: The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC) has accused the media and the public of ‘trying and convicting’ Thulani Rudd, accused of murdering the woman she was engaged to, before the investigation has even been completed.

This, after Rudd (37) was arrested while entering Swaziland at Ngwenya border post, coming from South Africa, on 29 December 2009 and charged with the murder of Pitseng Vilakati (22) who was found dead with a stab wound to her neck, at Ngwane Park Cemetery on 19 December.

While speculation is high in the Swazi community that Rudd is guilty, Monica Mbaru of IGLHRC in Africa warned that a “strong” possibility of this [murder] being a hate crime by homophobic persons may be ignored, in the haste to prove Rudd guilty.

Fikile Vilakazi of the Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) condemned what she called a “sustained and vitriolic verbal attack” on Rudd and the late Vilakati, stating that it constituted emotional abuse and a violation of rights of all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Swaziland.

She appealed to all “fair-minded” and “freedom loving” people in Swaziland to continue to resist and challenge all forms of discrimination, including that based on homophobia.

Gay rights groups have condemned the murder of Vilakati and all other acts of violence against women in Swaziland. They have also called on the state to ensure a prompt, full and thorough investigation to bring the perpetrators to book.

“We call on the state in its prosecution of Thulani Rudd to exercise fairness and to ensure that the homophobia that exist, even within the criminal justice system, and the violations of the rights of LGBT people are not allowed to permeate and colour the state’s case”, IGLHRC said in a statement.
Rudd is presently at a women’s jail in Swaziland awaiting a court appearance next week.

Vilakati will be remembered as, a “powerful activist for human rights of LGBT people as well as of people living with HIV and AIDS. She was a leader and showed enormous courage in a context of the hostility and discrimination against people in same sex relationships in Swaziland”, Vilakazi said.

Article by: Lesego Tlhwale (Behind The Mask Intern)

Night Clubs Urged To Facilitate Safer Sex During 2010

nthateng — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:59:53 +0200

SOUTH AFRICA: As the 2010 Soccer World Cup approaches, it is expected to bring an influx of gay tourists to South Africa. Health4Men, a health centre for men who have sex with men (MSM) in Cape Town has urged entertainment venues in all cities to promote responsible sex among gay men.

Themed Responsible Sex Promotion by Gay Venues, this initiative is targeting night clubs, bars, taverns, guest houses and sex venues, making available free condoms, lubricant sachets, fact sheets, posters and public health notices.

Glenn de Swardt, Health4Men’s psychosocial manager says that by not providing safe sex materials “gay venues are playing a significant role in perpetuating the collective denial of HIV” and that it is about time that the gay business sector plays its role in addressing HIV and AIDS in the community.

“It is no longer acceptable that, in the light of the prevalent HIV pandemic and gay men being at particular risk of infection, gay venues refuse to promote responsible sex”, de Swardt said, adding, “Responsible sex messaging needs to be made prominently visible and available, along with condoms and water-based lubricants.”

Acknowledging Health4Men’s initiative, Fanney Tsimong, owner of V2 Angels Theme party, said “it is a good thing to remind us of our duties as business owners.”

He however pointed out that in their club they do have condom dispensers but they cannot tell if patrons use them after taking them.

“Through our theme parties, we also try to promote safe sex practices by conducting surveys and sending out chain-emails through our Facebook page,” he said.

Tsimong added “Out LGBT-Wellbeing has been working with us on several occasions, providing free condoms and pamphlets for MSM who come to our parties and we are also trying to partner with other gay organisations in Johannesburg.”

Meanwhile, de Swardt says that Heath4Men will support any business serving the gay community by supplying free condoms and water-based lubricants for their patrons.

He also revealed that the organisation has initiated an annual award for the gay venue that is most pro-active in promoting responsible sex.

Health4Men is a non-profit organisation rendering free sexual health services to men, particularly men who have sex with men, as a group that is at higher risk of HIV infections.

Article by: Lesego Tlhwale (Behind The Mask Intern)

Safer sex for soccer fans and sex workers

lufeyo — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:10:28 +0200

With only six months until South Africa hosts the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the nettlesome question of how to deal with sex workers looms. "There are actually almost no sex work programmes in place at the moment," said Marlise Richter, a sex work researcher and member of the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC). She was speaking at a recent consultation in Cape Town on HIV, sex work and the World Cup.

"If we look at healthcare-specific programmes [for sex workers], there's very little, and this is what we should be doing in terms of the National Strategic Plan [on AIDS], ” Richter said.

Public health and human rights experts fear a potential disaster in the combination of a criminalised sex trade, one of the world's highest HIV infection rates, and the arrival of an expected 450,000 soccer fans.

The consultation, co-sponsored by the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) and SANAC, brought together civil society, government, and other key players to discuss the potential impact of the World Cup on the local population, with a particular focus on developing strategies to address HIV risk in the context of sex work.

Among the draft recommendations that emerged from the two-day meeting were the need for human rights training, public health messages specific to sex work, a government directive to end police harassment of sex workers, and a moratorium on arrests of sex workers during the event.

The point was also made that safer sex campaigns should target not only sex workers, but also their clients, non-paying partners, and the general public. The German "Fair Play" campaign, which ran during the 2006 World Cup, was cited as a good example because it increased condom distribution and started targeting sex workers and their clients with messages about safe sex more than a year before the kick-off.

According to the recommendations, the South African campaign should include the distribution of male and female condoms packaged with a soccer logo and lubricant. Coasters printed with the message: "Don't leave this bar without picking up a condom", could also be placed in bars and pubs where soccer will be watched.