Kaleidoscope Youth Network has partnered with South African human rights and social justice and interest bodies to oppose the apartheid Israel state, particularly with regard to aspects of 'pinkwashing' - please support national initiatives.

More information on IAW:
Israeli Apartheid Week (IAW) is an annual international series of events held in cities and campuses across the globe (www.apartheidweek.org).

IAW aims to contribute to the chorus of international opposition to Israeli apartheid and to bolster support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign in accordance with the demands outlined in the July 2005 call from Palestinian civil society: full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, an end to the occupation and colonization of all Arab lands – including the Golan Heights, the Occupied West Bank with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip – as well as the dismantling the Wall, and the protection of Palestinian refugees’ right to return to their homes and properties as stipulated in U.N. resolution 194.

The week’s events will include lectures, multimedia events, cultural performances, film screenings, demonstrations, and more.

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1 February 2012

Announcement: Transitioning Africa

 

Gender DynamiX (GDX) and the Support Initiative for People with atypical sexual Development (SIPD) have taken their collaboration in the Exchange Programmes in 2010 and 2011 a step further and, together with Transgender and Intersex Africa (TIA), will concentrate its efforts mainly on advocacy in Sub-Saharan Africa. Forming the tripartite will further solidify and strengthen their work in Africa and a specific mission and vision for the new partnership has been formulated.

The main focus of this new entity is to support a growing transgender and intersex movement and to engage regionally in advocacy for the human rights of transgender and intersex people. While forming a platform for all regional work of the three organisations, Transitioning Africa is not a new NGO but will remain a formal partnership of the three organisations and thus retain autonomy locally and regionally and the capacity for its activities will be provided by the three organisations in the implementation of its activities, such as capacity building workshops, advocacy support to other organisations, exchange programmes and mentorships.

The vision of Transitioning Africa is to see a strong transgender and intersex movement in Sub-Saharan Africa, based on human rights principles, while the mission is to strive for gender recognition within social movements in Africa. It aims to build transgender and intersex leadership and capacity, by supporting both individual transgender and intersex activists, as well as transgender and intersex organisations on the continent. The mission further states that Transitioning Africa will advocate for transgender and intersex issues within regional and international platforms, directly, and support local advocacy efforts when invited. It will also aim to document the history of the transgender and intersex movement in Africa.

An Advisory Committee advise Transitioning Africa on its work. This Committee will consist of 6 members, including the Directors of the 3 partner organisations. Three members will be recruited strategically to bring in knowledge and/or skills for the benefit of Transitioning Africa.

 

More organisational information below:

 

 

Gender DynamiX, founded 2005, was the first organisation in South Africa and Africa which specifically advocates for transgender individuals. GDX provides resources and information about transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming individuals  and seeks to promote awareness  within mainstream society by means of educating and empowering people from diverse communities, including government departments, service providers, medical professionals, journalists, academia and refugees. GDX also reaches out to parents, partners, children, co-workers and people who journey alongside trans people.

Support initiative for People with atypical sex Development, was founded in 2007 by Julius Kaggwa, a Ugandan intersex activist. This Human Rights organisation is the only intersex health and rights organisation in Uganda and the East African region that specifically addresses the human rights of intersex people and provides reliable and objective information on the plight of intersex and gender non-conforming persons in Uganda. SIPD advocates, mediates and provides services for intersex people throughout Uganda. Their objectives are to advance intersex people’s rights through national legislation. A primary goal of SIPD is to end the stigma and secrecy surrounding intersex people, affording them freedom of choice and decision regarding their gender identity.

 

Transgender and Intersex Africa is an organisation that has been initiated by black transgender individuals to focus on black transgender and intersex issues in South Africa in 2010 and was funded in 2011 by mama cash. Our aim is to break the silence and stop ignorance about the existence of the black Transgender and Intersex community in South Africa especially in the rural areas and black townships. TIA also want to bring the knowledge of applicable terminologies and a better understanding of the condition, however not dismissing the indigenous knowledge of African transgender and intersex identity. The founder, Tebogo Nkoana worked previously at Gender DynamiX and was an Exchange Programme participant.

 

For more information please contact

Julius Kaggwa, Director of SIPD

[email protected]

Tebogo Nkoana, Director of TIA

[email protected]

Liesl Theron, Director of GDX

[email protected]

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1 FEBRUARY 2012

Triangle Project is relieved that the 4 men convicted of murder of Zoliswa Nkonyana have finally been sentenced.  The sentence delivered by Magistrate Whatten, acknowledged that Zoliswa was murdered because “she exercised her right to live openly as a lesbian” and that the murder “was driven by hatred and intolerance”.  The Magistrate considered this to be an aggravating factor in sentencing.  Magistrate Whatten also referred to the report and testimony of Triangle Project and stated that this had comprehensively set out the impact of the murder of Zoliswa on the LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex) community and gave great insight into discrimination faced by LGBTI persons.

Today, even after taking into account that the accused were under 18 years of age at the time of the murder, the Magistrate passed a substantial sentence of 18 years (with 4 of these years suspended for 5 years).

On the question of whether justice has been served, Triangle Project shares the sentiments of Magistrate Whatten who stated that “the court could only attempt to restore a sense of justice” and that Zoliswa could never be returned to her family.   The sentence has however set an important precedent in the South African Criminal Justice System by acknowledging hatred and intolerance based on sexual orientation as an aggravating factor. 

Triangle Project acknowledges the crucial role played by the State prosecutors in the outcome of the trial.  We also acknowledge all the activists who have mobilised in support of justice in this trial.

For further information and / or comment, contact Jill Henderson ([email protected]) or Jayne Arnott ([email protected]) at Tel: 021 448 3812.

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The names in the photo are from left to right: Anthony Waldhausen – Director & Founder of Gay & Lesbian Network, Mr Jacques Lapouge – French Ambassador to South Africa and Mr Desmond Lejenane – Deputy Director of Sonke Gender Justice Network

 

Press release from Gay & Lesbian Network, Pietermaritzburg

 

The Gay & Lesbian Network received a special distinction award from the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights.

 

The awarded was hosted by the French Ambassador, Mr Jacques Lapouge yesterday evening 31 January 2012 at the French Ambassador’s residence in Pretoria. The award included a medal and certificate.

 

The distinction has been granted in recognition of Gay & Lesbian Network's work and active involvement in supporting the advancement of Human Rights in South Africa, especially with regards to fighting against human rights violations on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender.

 

The Network submitted an application for the 2011 Human Rights Prize of the French Republic and although the Network didn’t win the prize it was however bestowed a special distinction with six other organisations worldwide, two of which are South Africans. The other South African organisation was the Sonke Gender Justice Network.

 

Anthony Waldhausen, director of the Gay & Lesbian Network said “It’s an honour and privilege to have received this award and recognition and would like to acknowledge staff, volunteers, EXCO and our partners who work sternly and passionately to realising the Network’s vision. I would like to dedicate this award to all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex people worldwide who face on-going discrimination, persecution and even murder – we will endure with the struggle and are with you all, each day of your life in the hope that this scourge of homophobia is eliminated from the face of the earth.

 

Nothing will stop our resolve to ensure a just and free society for all.

 

I would also like to congratulate Sonke Gender Justice Network who also shared this award with us and hope to network and partner together with them in the future.”

 

In attendance included various dignitaries from embassies, SA Human Rights Commission, donors, NGOs and Mr Gay SA 2011-Lance Weyer.

 

Founded in 1988, the prize is awarded every year in complete independence by the French National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) and rewards human rights defenders around the world for their action on the ground. This prize presented by the Prime Minister of the French government, is awarded to individual or collective action on the ground, irrespective of nationality or borders, undertaken in France or abroad, with respect to specific themes every year. In 2011, the themes were the fight against human rights violations on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and combating violence against women. This year around 160 organisations have applied for the prize.

You can find more information on the CNCDH website: www.cncdh.fr

 For more information about the award please contact Aurélie Voix at the French Embassy at Tel: 012 – 4251718 or [email protected] and Anthony Waldhausen at Tel: 033-3426165 or [email protected]

_ 26 January 2012

PRESS STATEMENT

 

OUT LGBT Well-Being leads evidence in the sentencing of a hate crime

 

 

On Friday, 27 January 2012, OUT - represented by Webber Wentzel Attorneys - will lead further evidence in aggravation of sentence, in a hate crime trial at the Germiston Magistrates Court.

 

The trial in the State vs. Madubaduba and 2 Others has spanned more than 3 years. In December 2011, the accused were found guilty of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm after attacking a young, black, gay man in a bar. The offence is a typical hate crime as the gay man was targeted as a result of his sexual orientation.

 

In delivering judgment, the magistrate specifically noted that the accused were motivated by hatred and disrespect for gay people which was particularly degrading for the complainant.

 

On 27 January, OUT intends leading two additional witnesses to provide the court with further information on homophobic discrimination in South Africa and the particularly detrimental impact of hate crimes on victims, survivors, LGBT communities and society at large.

 

OUT set a groundbreaking precedent in being successfully admitted as amicus curiae in the sentencing phase of the trial. OUT's successful amicus application was historic on at least two fronts:

 

·         OUT is the first organisation to be successfully admitted as amicus curiae in a criminal trial in the magistrates courts; and

·         It is the first time a Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender (LGBT) rights organisation will be leading expert evidence to ensure thatsentencing in homophobia-motivated crimes takes into account the hate element in the commissioning of these crimes. 

 

OUT is hopeful that the successful admission of the organisation as a friend of the court may enable other civil society organisations to offer their expertise to the lower courts on a range of issues, including those affecting the LGBT community.

 

The Court Hearing details are as follows:

Court: Germiston Magistrate Court

Date: 27 January 2012

Time: 9:00