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Contributor, South Africa
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Recent studies have shown that the three-month injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera might make people more vulnerable to contracting HIV. In South Africa, where more than 7 million people are infected with HIV, the injectable is the most commonly used contraceptive.
Until recently, South Africans faced a limit of 20 years to report sexual offenses committed against them, with the exception of rape. But on June 19, South Africa’s High Court declared the distinction between rape and other sexual offenses invalid and unconstitutional.
South Africa has had a Domestic Violence Act since 1998, but its critics say the law is ineffective, leaving women with nowhere to turn when they try to escape abusive relationships. We speak to rights activist Claudia Lopes about what more needs to be done.
By encouraging its alumni to volunteer as mentors for newer members, a program in Sierra Leone aims to provide a sustainable support network for girls facing challenges that keep them out of school, such as early pregnancy and female genital mutilation.
Intimate partner violence among lesbian couples in South Africa is underrepresented in research and trivialized by police, leaving victims unwilling or unable to access the protective services, says Ingrid Lynch of LGBTI support organization the Triangle Project.
By collecting the names of sex workers who have been killed, and painting a picture of their lives, advocates hope to humanize them in the media. The campaign is pushing for changes to fight the high rates of violence against women in South Africa.
South African law requires marriages be conducted by a registered official. But many of the country’s Muslims get married in exclusively religious ceremonies, leaving married Muslim women with little legal protection, say activists.
Six years after the South African government promised to address violence toward the LGBTIQ community, a hate crimes bill was opened for public comment this month – but the struggle to ensure lesbians enjoy a life free from violence is not over, say activists.
South Africa’s constitution protects reproductive rights, but women still struggle with issues like unsafe abortion and high HIV rates. We speak with activist Dr. Tlaleng Mofokeng about the need for political cooperation in finding solutions.
As South Africa’s government debates whether or not to decriminalize prostitution, advocacy groups say the current strict legislation denies women and children some of their basic rights and puts them at greater risk of violence.
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