 For eleven years, South Africa is taking part in the global 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women campaign, which runs from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) through to International Human Rights Day on December 10. This campaign originated from the United Nations.
Although the global campaign focuses on violence against women only, South Africa added children to its campaign because of the high incidence of child abuse in the country.
In the advent of this year’s 16 Days of Activism, the Joint Working Group released a press statement, calling on South Africans to remember the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex victims of gender based violence and Hate Crime at the same time as we remember all other victims of violence, abuse and prejudice in our country.
“We remember Sizakele, Salome, Lorna, Gugu, Zoliswa, Thokozane, Jonas, Waldo, Daisy, Eudy and all the other  LGBTI people who have been assaulted, raped or murdered because of their sexual orientation, their Gender identity or their activism. We honour all LGBTI and Women’s Human rights defenders who work tirelessly and often at great risk to challenge prejudice and violence”.
Five days before the start of 16 Days of Activism, the 20th November marks the international Transgender Day Of Remembrance (TDOR), commemorating those who were killed due to anti transgender hatred or prejudice. In the joint press statement by Gender DynamiX and the Trans Africa Network we pointed out the importance of inclusion and awareness of transgender, transsexual and gender non-conforming matters.
Throughout the country different sectors host awareness events, workshops, campaigns and demonstrations as part of their 16 Days of Activism calendar. At the office of Gender DynamiX we strategically decided to use different organisations events as platform to raise awareness about the work Gender DynamiX is doing. We aimed to attend and be visible at as many as possible workshops, meetings and exhibitions as possible.
 The first platform that was offered to Gender DynamiX was the inclusion of the Parrow Police Station, which came to the Saartjie Baartman Center and approached all organisations for their brochures and leaflets to include in their 16 Days event.
 25 November, the first day of 16 Days of Activism we attended a roundtable discussion hosted by the Human Science Research Council (HSRC) highlighting experiences with the criminal justice system addressing challenges, advocacy and research focused on violence against women and children. Keynote speaker and facilitator of the round table was Professor Jane Bennett (African Gender Institute, University of Cape Town). Brief arguments focused on violence against women generally, homophobic attacks on lesbians, political mobilization against gender-based violence, as well as responses and interventions to the criminal justice system in respect of gender-based violence were delivered. Fiona Nicolson of the Thohoyandou Victim Empowerment Centre also elaborated on frustrations in dealing with issues of lack of service delivery when assisting individuals who reports rape, domestic violence and abuse.
 We attended a consultative meeting: “Women’s Place” on the 27th of November in Parliament. The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge initiated the project to collaborate with various women-focused partners, including Parliament and legislatures, government, civil society, trade unions, academia and the corporate sector. The Vision is to bring to life the aspirations, voices, talents, achievements and stories of the past, present and the future. The idea is to stimulate interest, research, document history, reflect, and dialogue.
The shorter term plan is to launch the concept of a Women's Space, as well as to establish collaborative partnerships with various stakeholders. Medium term plans include establishing satellite sites within and beyond institutions such as Parliament, universities, various grassroots community spaces (such as homes, halls sports fields, churches & mosques, schools), and other appropriate sites.
Attending events such as the Women’s Space at the Parliament enable Gender DynamiX to network and reach out to organisations and individuals and raise awareness about the organisation’s work and transgender matters in South Africa.
 27 November, opening of the Michael Stevenson Gallery’s Summer 2008/9 exhibition called Projects which coincides with the 16 Days of Activism. One of Michael Stevenson’s resident artists, Zanele Muholi, well known Independent Photographer / Activist / Documentarian decided to use this space as platform of her visual activism. In this Summer 2008/9 collection she has two shows, one called Siyafana (a group of portraits captured in various countries) and the second is a very thought provoking installation in which she shifts her work focus from photography to a different medium. Some of the second hand panties were obtained at street markets for as little as 50 cents, unwashed and damaged and now forms the installation's wall of panties whilst the remaining are dumped in a heap. Insila Yomuntu (consisting of used panties and text), challenges the viewer to engage with issues many women face in their daily lives. It is a manifestation of how poverty plays a huge role in many women's lives, violations and various forms of gender based discrimination is still rife.
 
Photograph of installation by Zanele Muholi (click on small image to see lager version)
Also attending the exhibition was members of Luleki ‘sizwe, a new emerging Lesbian organisation from Gugulethu, who also visited the Gender DynamiX office a few times as part of their Photo XP training by Zanele Muholi. This served as an extension of our outreach work and organisational support we show to new and emerging organisations.
 On 28 November Gender DynamiX was invited to attend the Area Military Health Unit Western Cape 16 Days of Activism “Peace Begins at Home” Campaign. We were given a space to put up some of our posters and display our brochures and have a representative available if anyone would like to ask questions about the organisation.
The program consisted of some speeches from Military staff and 2 representatives from the private sector and some entertainment focusing on abuse against woman and children but also against men.
After the program there was time to network and some interest was shown in the work we do and many people took brochures.
Two important contacts were made with staff from the military base.
 3 December – South Africa is a signatory to and has ratified the “Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” which was drafted by the UN. However at the pier review held earlier this year it was recommended that in order for South Africa to comply with all aspects of Human Rights requirements it would be necessary for South Africa to implement legislation governing the torture.
The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) held a workshop on the new proposed “Combating of Torture” bill that will be submitted to parliament for discussion early in 2009. Gender DynamiX was invited to be a part of the workshop and to give input around issues related to torture of LGTBIQ persons. Gender DynamiX has in the past assisted some individuals who have experienced severe persecution and torture as a result of their transgender status in other regions of Africa. We are also aware of gross human rights violations at the hands of the authorities against LGTBIQ persons in South Africa.
Through the contacts and network established with the SAHRC Gender DynamiX will continue to monitor the development of the bill and where required will make submissions to ensure that LGTBIQ rights are protected and upheld in this bill.
 Zoliswa Nkonyana was brutally murdered at the age 19 on February 3 in 2006 near her home and in front of her friend in Khayelitsha. Nine men were arrested and are standing trial. This crime is one of many incidents in our country targeting lesbians, gays and transgender people in the last few years. The case of Zoliswa Nkonyana has been dragging on for more than 2 years and after 22 postponements the case has still not been brought to trial.
On 05 December a picket outside the Khayelitsha court takes place to protest the delays in this case and to demand that action be taken to ensure that justice prevails.
As part of the Western Cape End Hate Campaign Gender DynamiX would like to call on all persons to please make every effort to join us in supporting this action. We also call on all NGO’s and PBO’s to mobilise their members and constituents to support this action. This is an integral part of the battle against the abuse of woman and children and an opportunity for your organisation to include action related to LGTBIQ (Lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, intersex and queer) issues in their struggle and is also a part of the activities around the 16 Days of Activism.
For those interested in joining us we will meet at the Gender DynamiX offices at the Saartjie Baartman Centre for Woman and Children, Klipfontein Road, Manenberg, at 08:00 on 05 December 2008 and proceed to the court. We will be joining other organisations in a protest and a call for justice to be served.
 10 December marks international Human Rights day. It is also the date, set out by Gender DynamiX and the Africa Trans Network to commemorate the Transgender Day Of Remembrance (TDOR).
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