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.