Speech by Deputy Minister in the Department of Women Youth and Persons with Disabilities: in the Presidency Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize on PRE – LBTQI+ Womxn’s Conference, Theme: “Uniting LBTQI+ Womxn in all their diversities”
Honorable Deputy Minister: Ms Thembi Siwela
Mpho Nefuri: Director –Nefuri Attorneys
Portia Modise: Women in Sport
Thuli Mjwara: Inclusive Ministries Zsa-Zsa: Trans Activitist
Roche Kester: Hate Crime Manager- OUT LGBTI Well –Being
Reverend N Dhladhla: Project Manager Sanerela
Moderators: Dr Dulcy Rakumakoe and Steve Letsike
We thank Access Chapter 2 for hosting an LBTQI+ Womxn’s Conference, with the theme: “Uniting LBTQI+ Womxn in all their diversities”.
In your own concept, you see this conference as a space to embrace, recognize, celebrate, build on and affirm the experiences and needs of the LBTQI+ Womxn based on bodily integrity, autonomy and self-determination.
And also the vision of your organization sums it all where you state that, you are striving for a world, where LGBTQI+ community, have equal access to human rights. I must say your overall objective is in line with the struggles for gender equality in all aspects of life.
South Africa’s Constitution has the build in bill of rights, emphasizing human rights, equality, dignity and freedom for all its citizens, irrespective of gender, or sexual orientation or identity. Admittedly, the lived reality is that discrimination occurs on a daily basis. In democracy, you are likely to experience subtle forms of discrimination South Africa has come up with a number of laws that are meant to protect and defend people’s rights to dignity.
There also been progress in the Department of Justice and Constitutional, development on coming up with legislation on hate crimes .The LGBTQI+ NSP on HIV,TB and STI lead through SANAC has become a good practice of inclusion. There are pockets of excellence not only at a national level even a provincial level, which have all been realized through persuasion, advocacy and education by change agent for the future we want
Government is now monitoring all its departments so as to ensure that, they mainstream the LGBTQI+ issues as per the DPSA mainstreaming policy of gender and sexual orientation. However there are pockets of excellence such as in the inclusion of the LGBTQI+ persons in the women’s peace and security strategy lead by the DWYPD. During the recent launch of GBVF- NSP we see progress as the LGBTQI+ has been fully integrated.
As part of the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Platform for Action , and in driving the goals of the UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development comprising of 17 Sustainable Development Goals towards achieving women ‘s empowerment and gender equality , the UN Women has initiated a global campaign called Generation Equality .
South Africa has joined Generation Equality, a global campaign to achieve gender equality by 2030. As part of this campaign, we are part of two Action Coalitions, one on economic justice and rights and another on gender-based violence and femicide. These Action Coalitions mobilise governments, civil society and the private sector for collective action. They give us an opportunity to work with leaders to achieve real change in the lives of women.
The vision of UN Women is that the Generation Equality Campaign should bring together the next generation of women’s rights activists to work side by side with the gender equality activists who were instrumental in creating the Beijing Platform for Action more than two decades ago.
The Coalitions that the UN Women have set for the global community, are a rallying point and also a big agenda that we should embrace for a bigger goal of an equal future .In my view the LBTQI+ Community has an opportunity, to devise a strategy in line with the Generation Equality agenda and provide leadership and the strategy as to where they want the community to be in 10years time. As I was looking into your concept I realized that even within your community persons with disabilities and those residing in rural areas also suffer the most. We should aim at ensuring that nobody is left behind.
Off course we have to be frank in our discussions, and take stock of what the LGBTQI+ community has gone through, so that the future generations could appreciate the struggles you have waged, over years to be where you are today. Your experiences should go down in history, written by you in your own words. In all your gatherings, it is clear that many of you have stories to tell about:
- Discrimination at work places,
- Some have experiences of being rejected and humiliated by your own family members.
- You have experiences of being mistreated and bullied at a school level by both educators and leaners.
- Corrective rape within the lesbian community is a big problem which leads to most lesbians being murdered. All the victims should be recorded in history and where possible ensure that there are memorial parks in those communities so that people may know the truth.
We have come a long way just between 2018 and today, where the President Cyril Ramaphosa have ensured that, through the reprioritization strategy ,the criminal justice system has access to R1,6 billion so as to improve their capacity to manage cases of GBVF.
Two weeks ago the Minister of Justice ensured that parliament approves three Bills into Law, namely the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act Bill, Domestic Violence Amendment Act Bill and Criminal and Related Matters Amendment Act Bill. The intention is to improve our conviction rate and sentencing because we all know justice delayed is justice denied.
The government has ensured that there is an expansion of shelters, for people with different needs to be accommodated with dignity and respect. I know that some now are ear marked for persons with disabilities, women with special needs and some for the LGBTQI+ community.
In conclusion our wish is that, over the next 10years members of your community, should be talking about victories and gains and handing over to the younger generation a good story .
I THANK YOU
