In his first week as President of the United States of America, Donald Trump has demonstrated a callous disregard for women’s rights by reinstating and extending the so-called global gag rule, a policy which will prevent all organisations receiving US foreign aid for health from including abortion referrals or information within their programmes. Not only […]
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights, with over seven million members and supporters around the world. The Southern African regional office of the International Secretariat is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Twitter: @AmnestySARO
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Sex workers’ rights are human rights
By Catherine Murphy Sex workers all over the world face a constant risk of abuse. This is not news. Nor is it news that they are an extremely marginalised group of people, frequently forced to live outside the law. No one would be surprised to learn that they face discrimination, beatings, rape and harassment — […]
Posted inGeneral, Health
Public health in SA: Crying out for help, but who is listening?
By Louise Carmody I was one of over a hundred people who gathered last week in the University of the Free State auditorium, as communities shared their experiences with an independent panel of three commissioners. Treatment Action Campaign and Section 27 convened the panel to investigate the real situation of public health care services in […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Impunity vs Immunity: Africa and the ICC
By Netsanet Belay As the International Criminal Court (ICC) opens its Assembly of States Parties — the periodic gathering of all the countries who have ratified the court’s statute — in The Hague, it does so with a bloody nose. The court was yet again met with contempt this month by South Africa’s failure to […]
Posted inNews/Politics
Ahead of the Bushfire Festival: Five things you might not know about Swaziland
Swaziland is a small mountain kingdom neighboured by South Africa and Mozambique. Reporting about the tiny country usually focuses on its beautiful landscapes — highly favoured by South African tourists — and the actions of its head of state, King Mswati III. But behind its picturesque beauty lie a few ugly truths. Here are five […]
Posted inEquality, News/Politics
Growing up with a political activist
By Mzwandile Masuku The first time I saw an assault rifle was on television in an American movie as a small child. I would then see one in real life shortly after at home, in the living room. These were days when the Royal Swaziland Police Force and the army would raid our home. During […]
Posted inEquality, Gender violence, News/Politics
Four years later, Noxolo Nogwaza’s killers are still free
By Tracy Doig Four years ago today, 24-year-old Noxolo Nogwaza was raped and murdered in KwaThema, Ekurhuleni. The young mother of two was on her way home after a night out with friends. Since Noxolo’s brutal murder, attacks on people because of their gender presentation or perceived sexual orientation are still too tragically common, especially […]