Final Thoughts

"It always seems impossible until it's done." -- Nelson Mandela

For my final blog post for my Human Rights Lit. class on the topic of women's rights in South Africa, I thought it would be fitting in include a dedication to a man that had a huge impact on not just South Africa, but the entire world.Nelson Mandela fought for what he believed in until the day he died and chose to live a life to make positive changes in the world. He will be greatly missed and his legend will lie on. We can only hope to make a fraction of a change in the world that he has made.


This semester I have focused in on different issues regarding women in South Africa and the rights that they may not be denied, but definitely are not accessible to them. I have found that the South African government is quick to make laws legalizing things like abortion, same sex marriage etc, but to carry out these rights have a high chance of putting an individual in an unsafe position and high possibility of death. I would like to say that there is a magic button that someone could push to make things change, but unfortunately there is not. However, there are people around the world that can be educated about the rights that women are either being denied or being made very difficult to follow out. I stand by the belief that education is the key to solving most issues, and when more people have the education to make an important decision or stand up for a belief a change can be made.

When people can stand together and fight for what we believe in the truth is there is change in numbers. Even though those numbers may be the minority, we are able to make the majority see things in a different light. Making changes doesn't need to come from aggression, negativity, and fighting, but from positivity, enough information to back up the cause, and faith that the world will see what changes need to be made. Fighting hate with hate will only lead to an unhappy society, when what we are really after is a peaceful and happy medium for all.

Acts Against Gender Violence

"The main goal of the future is to stop violence. The world is addicted to it." - Bill Cosby

During the holiday season it easy to get wrapped up in the food, gifts, made for t.v holiday movies, and family time, and I am guilty of this as well. But across the globe, the people of South Africa are actively standing up against gender violence in The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, beginning on November 25, 2013. Zanele Muholi is an award-winning South African photographer and activist who has spent years documenting lives of black lesbians and transgenders in South Africa. She has found a way to show the rest of the world that these people, like herself, are the same as every one else. With all of the hate crimes, rapes, deaths due to sexual and domestic abuse, raising awareness that there is an issue with gender-based violence is something that Muholi believes is important to make a change. 
In light of her positive work Human Rights Watch put together this short documentary that has a message of hope as so many people are afraid to show who they really are just to live another day. The article and short video can be found here <---- 

As I stood and fought for marriage equality here in Hawaii not too long ago, it brings a smile to my face knowing that there are others fighting for their beliefs across the world. I have found a website called  Stoprapeandconflict.org where you can pledge to call representatives to encourage them to help action be taken against people that commit such hateful crimes in South Africa. Lets stand together and help change the life of someone else.

Success Doesn't Mean the Battle Is Won

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts" -Winston Churchill

I found this article on gobalissues.org Rights in South Africa- Women Celebrate Gain 
Finally something to celebrate. South Africa is making some great changes, but what about the rest of the issues?  Although there has been many advances in women's rights in South Africa, the battle is ongoing. In August the many women fighting for their equal rights celebrated their new gains, however they know that the struggle for gender equality is far from over. Many mile stones have been crossed such as the right to legal abortions, and the Labor Relations Act, which recognizes women's rights in the work place against sexual harassment. However, these advances have not begun to touch the issue with domestic violence. It is estimated that one in every three women suffer from domestic violence. I know that this in not just an issue in South Africa, but without adequate protect from their government, it's only a matter of time that this ratio changes to two in every three women. South Africa is reported to have one of the highest incidents of rape in the world. Some people may say "worry about the issues in your own country", which of course I do. But looking at the bigger picture of the entire world, personal safety is a core human right, and these women that are being abused, raped, and denied rights are just like every other woman in this world. They deserve to be treated fairly and respectfully. Let's keep taking steps to make a change, so that in the future the numbers only get lower, not higher.

Thought of The Day...

After reading many articles and watching different videos on the "rights" that women have in South Africa, I can't help but to think that they are not so much rights but more guide lines that make the country look good on the surface. I am shocked at the amount of women that are raped every minute, the lack of justice that is served, and the lack of resources available to those that they are promised to. I am amazed at how many Catch 22's South Africa has and I feel like that more I read the more I find. Everything seems to be "if you want it you have to fight for it". Abortions are promised to be free to the public, but only if you can get to a clinic or hospital and then not get turned away. Same sex marriages are legal but people that are open about their sexuality fear for their lives. How can a country with so many positive positive aspects be treating the women so poorly? Videos that I have watched women still in 2012 are viewed by some men that they should only be in the kitchen. Now this is an opinion that is not just from the men of South Africa, but around the world. It frustrates me that these women are almost teased with the idea of a better life and some control of their lives but the reality of it happening seems to be in the far distance for some. As John Mayer's song says " We are waiting on the world to change", and I truly am waiting.

The Catch 22 of Marriage Equality and Personal Safety

 With all of the rallying to legalize same sex marriage in Hawai'i  this past week, I found this article fitting. Although same sex marriage is legal in South Africa, it does not stop the violence against gays and lesbians. The opening sentence was already a shocker for me as I read "Being a lesbian in South Africa can be a death sentence." I couldn't help but to wonder what would happen here in Hawai'i if (hopefully when) same sex marriage is legal?

The newspapers in South Africa are flooded with story after story of men and women being brutality beaten, raped, and murdered, however nothing is really being done to solve the problem. One of the worst parts of these stories is that the ones being targeted are the leaders and activists of LGBTI groups when they are trying to fight for their legal rights and bring knowledge to their communities. The numbers of lesbians being raped and murdered are only getting higher, and the repercussions for the perpetrator only get lower if it is found out that you are a lesbian.

Living by Gandhi's famous quote "Be the change you wish to see in the world" one women states “Even though you want to be the change that you want to see, there is fear that if I do this, what are my chances of survival?”. One word comes to mind. Wow. This hits way to close to home for me, this is a quote that I had just used as a caption under a picture I posted online of the rally. Although when I was rallying on the side of the road, I wasn't worried about my safety or more so my life.  

I don't understand how a country that has legalized gay marriage, could still have discrimination and hatred against people, so much that they fear for their lives. Bringing all of this full circle into a human rights perspective, not only is equality a human right, but so is personal safety.  

This shocking story

When Jurisdiction Intersects...

In the small South African town of Ulundi, falls under the jurisdiction of the Progressive South African Constitution and the Customary law. Under the Constitution, women are seen as equals to men. However, the old rooted Customary Law states that women can be property of men. Males are seen as the dominate sex, and women are subjected to rape, forced marriages, and much more. Women unfortunately have to rely on men for every day survival needs. Women are now demanding just the basic human rights of safety. South Africa: Law of the Land and the article to the left only briefly cover this horrific way of life.


What will it take to make a change in life for these women? It's so hard to believe that just an ocean away there are women that fear the walk to the bathroom, that are denied rights to education, and are forced to live under a law that suppresses them. Although here in America we have our own issues with poverty and sexual abuse crimes, women are at least seen as more then property to men in the eyes of the law. Women here in America are not denied the right to walk into a court room and press charges against a man that did them wrong. So unbelievable but so true.

Knowledge + Accessibility = Prevention

Once again the lack of knowledge and accessibility to sterile and safe facilities is leaving the women in Africa with life lasting compilations. Like the woman in the picture to the left, many other women all over Africa are left with obstetric fistula or also known as the poverty disease. This gut retching disease happens when women have a non sterile, long and painful birthing process with the end result often being a stillbirth and the inability to control their bladders or bowels. Many of these women were married off and pregnant by the age of 14, leaving the decision of where they will give birth to their husbands, mother-in-laws, or other relatives. So many of these women that are stuck in this situation have no money, no job, and no funds to pay for a facility where they can get adequate care to deliver their child. I was beyond shocked when reading this recently published article because I had never heard of such horrific way of living after giving birth to a child. Some of the women interviewed described a continues pain and burning, and if the pain wasn't bad enough the shame covers it all. Women with obstetric fistula have to live with the shame of soiling themselves anytime, anywhere. Some people comment of the smell or the piles of wet clothes that must be washed and rewashed.


Being that this is something that is preventable, what is the issue then? Why is this a continuous problem with women in Africa? The article Kenya: When Childbirth Leads to Disability and Despair states "prevention is the key." This sounds great, however how do we get these low income, poverty areas to a state where they have equal access to the facilities needed to prevent this from happening? With the abortion clinics and hospitals turning people away because of over crowding and the lack of knowledge and access to these facilities this will continue to occur. I believe that knowledge is power in situations such as these.
If more people knew about this rising issue, there may be a chance at
a change. A change that needs to happen very soon.

Abortion for Women in South Africa; A Catch 22?

The fact that free abortions are guaranteed at public hospitals and clinics around South Africa sounds perfect right? Considering that there are many women that can not afford or do not want to have any more children. However this "promised" procedure is not easily obtainable for some. These abortions will only be done if the woman is not over 13 weeks pregnant, and for many just to collect the money for the taxi fair to get to a clinic takes longer than that. Only half of the designated facilities that are said to offer the procedure actually follow through with it. Although this 25 percent increase over the last four years is a step forward, it is still leaving many women turning to unsafe, unhygienic abortions.

So great, the country gives a woman the right to have control over her own body and even says "we'll help you", but when the help is out of reach how does this really benefit these women? There is an easier access to these underground abortions and the advertisement for them is greatly pushed. Large posters posted near by to clinics and hospitals are seen by the two-thirds of women that are turned away for various reasons.

This is just unacceptable, and shows little care for the safety and rights of women. How many deaths from outside abortions will take to make safe abortions available to those who need it?

Women's Day Rally in South Africa