Multi-Party Women’s Caucus says SA must be rid of homophobia
The Multi-Party Women’s Caucus has emphasised that the South African society needs to be rid of homophobia. A culture of equality must also be promoted.
Committee Chairperson, Ms Masefele Storey Morutoa, said a strong message of tolerance and respect needed to be sent out. Ms Morutoa’s response comes after the Committee received a briefing from the Department of Justice on the protection against violence and other human rights violations against persons on the basis of their real or imputed sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Committee also received a briefing from the Department of Health on increasing access to HIV and sexual and reproductive health services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) persons.
The Committee heard that government intended to introduce the concept of hate crimes into the criminal law. One of the key motivations for the proposed changes to the law, included in a draft policy framework, was the violent targeting of LGBTI persons based on their sexual orientation and gender identity, the so-called “corrective rapes” and murder of lesbian women and transgender men, especially in townships. Other motivators included a number of recent racist attacks, violence against foreign nationals as well as vandalism targeting religious institutions.
Ms Morutoa said the Committee welcomed the policy framework. “It will make hate speech a crime. It will further provide for the development of measures to combat hate crime and unfair discrimination.” The Committee expressed serious concerns about the use of word "corrective rape" as this remained rape. The Department of Justice agreed and said that is why they used the term so-called corrective rape.
The Committee further heard that only 14 million female condoms were distributed yearly by the Department of Health compared to the 800 million male condoms. The cost involved in procuring female condoms was highlighted as the reason for this.
Committee members commended the Department of Health for yearly increasing this amount but found the lower number unacceptable as women were a vulnerable group.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Rajaa Azzakani
Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8437
Cell: 081 703 9542
E-mail: razzakani@parliament.gov.za
