Activism 
PRESS RELEASE: #NotOurLeaders Campaign launched by Women and Democracy Initiative, Lawyers for Human Rights
#NotOurLeaders Campaign launched by Women and Democracy Initiative, Lawyers for Human Rights and gender violence specialist during 16 Days of Activism to end violence against women
PRESS RELEASE: SA Constitutional Court to hear case regarding removal of 20 year statute of limitations for sexual offences that do not include rape
On 14 November the Constitutional Court will hear the case seeking confirmation of the South Gauteng High Court judgment handed down on the 19 June by Acting Judge Hartford in the matter between Levenstein (and 7 others) and Sidney Frankel, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, and the Director of Public Prosecutions, (Case 29573/2016). The judgement struck down section 18 of the Criminal Procedure Act as unconstitutional. The section barred the right to prosecute all sexual offences, other than rape, after a period of 20 years after the offence has been perpetrated.
Con court ruling against ‘teen sex’ law protects rape survivors’ rights
Last week’s Constitutional Court ruling decriminalising consensual sexual relationships between teens was met with moralising outrage across the country. Sensationalist media fanned the flames of indignation by failing to contextualise the law’s effect on teen sexual relations – including rape.
Under the impugned sections 15 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act (SOA) teenage rape survivors, especially girls, run the risk of being criminally charged for being raped.
My activism is
Again, another comment I made on @ivovegter’s column that I wanted to cross post here. This is a discussion about my activism and the shape it takes. I often get snipes from people that I only do “online activism” or “slacktivism” – a completely baseless claim. I think it’s premised on the fact that I am a very outspoken netizen and always online, but it’s fallacious none the less. So here’s what my activism is.
PHOTOS: Silent Protest, by Adrian Frost
Some incredible photos of me while at the Silent Protest. All these pics were taken by the extraordinarily talented Adrian Frost. Read his post on the SP and see more of his pics here.
Will gov have 58 sexual offences courts ready by September? No.
The South African government’s claim that it will establish 58 dedicated sexual offences courts, to be fully operational by September this year, appears to be untrue. No budget has been announced and there appears to be no clear framework for how the courts will operate.
Anti-Harassment Act heralds end to cyberstalking
A NEW law against stalking and harassment came into effect over the weekend after many years of campaigning by sexual violence NGOs.
The Protection from Harassment Act (PHA) was adopted by parliament in 2011, and came into effect on Saturday April 27.
In a statement the Department of Justice (DoJ) explained that the PHA would provide South Africans with an in expensive civil remedy to deal with harassment, mainly by means of a court order preventing the harasser from con tinuing with the unwanted behaviour. Any person that con travenes such a court order is guilty of an offence and liable to fine and/or a maximum prison sentence of five years, according to the DoJ.
A Rhodes University student spoke to the Daily Dispatch about an online stalker that has been harassing her since October 2012. The student asked not to be named.
SPEECH: Silent Protest 2013 de-briefing
This is speech cobbled together from inspirational bloggers, feminists and thinkers I have read over the years. For many of them I have lost their references, but their words still ring in my heart. Thank you to them.
What is ‘rape’? It’s not as simple as you think. *TW*
I have had a couple of requests to define what rape is, so I wrote this up. This definition is as described by the Sexual Offences Act (SOA), including some of my own hypothetical examples. [TRIGGER WARNING for descriptions of rape.]
But what can we do?
Again we have outrage at the rape and brutal murder of another South African girl. And while I’m tired of meaningless outrage, I understand many people just don’t know what they can do to help fight rape. Here are 10 suggestions for how you can fight back.
Government spokesperson says what now?
Following the outrage over the gang rape and brutal murder of a 17-year old girl, government spokesperson Lionel Adendorf tells women to “take your rape cap off, put your loving cap on”.
My first story published in a book
Received my copy of My First Time in the mail this week – I have my first story published in this book. This story changed my life. It was after this story was published that I began to fight back. I read this story now, and cried hard. I cried grateful tears for how far… Read More ›
Silent Protest 2012 in City Press
The City Press reports on the 2012 Silent Protest, for which I was media liaison. Check out an interview with me about why we protest.
1in9 campaign statement on Joburg Pride
On Saturday the 6th October, at Joburg Gay Parade, about 20 black lesbians and gender non-conforming feminists from the One in Nine Campaign were assaulted and intimidated by Joburg Pride organising committee members and their marshals. The Campaign disrupted the parade to demand one minute of silence to remember those members of the LGBT community who have been murdered because of their sexual orientation and gender expression.
The rights of rape survivors: access to free PEP
The 2007 Sexual Offences Act (SOA) requires that certain services be made available to rape survivors. Among these services, survivors of oral, anal and vaginal rape are entitled to receive post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), a 28-day course of antiretrovirals for the prevention of HIV infection. This must be provided to survivors – at state expense – when they… Read More ›
Michelle Solomon 