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September NewsLetter
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September NewsLetter
View the September Newsletter
WLC wins in NM vs AR Matter
Muslim Widows Rights Vindicated In The Harneker Matter
Postponement of the SJC Matter
Confirmation Application Levenstein
WLC ADVOCATING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION
On the 18th of August 2017, the WLC was given an opportunity to do a presentation on the Domestic Violence Act at Nonceba Family Counselling Centre in Khayelitsha. The aim of the event was to support Domestic Violence Prevention, and was well attended by women who live in the shelter and community members. The audience were able to ask questions and share their experiences. We also assisted handing out booklets with guidelines for drafting a protection order and the steps that need to take place to secure a protection order.
Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women Campaign!
The state is failing women who are reporting cases of domestic or sexual violence, which is why , together with other civil rights groups, we have started a campaign to do something about this challenge.
To find out more and support us follow us at @endingimpunityforviolenceagainstwomen
The Legal Workshop on the ACDP Bill with the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition
The Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition - SRJC is a coalition of organisations and individuals engaged in advocacy, research, service delivery, education, policy analysis [read more="Read More" less="Read Less"]
and activism work in the fields of gender, sexual and reproductive justice, health, rights and care. Its mission is to provide a platform through which individuals and organisations produce and use evidence to foster informed public debate and consensus building working towards holding policy makers and implementers accountable for progress towards realising sexual and reproductive justice for all.
The Women’s Legal Centre is a member and forms part of the SRJC legal strategy task team who drafted the submission on the proposed changes to the South African abortion law by the ACDP http://wlce.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Submission-to-the-Speaker-of-Parliament-Choice-of-Termination-of-Pregnancy-Act.pdf which was submitted on 11 August 2017.
On Friday 09 September the legal strategy task team meet to discuss the ACDP bill. The task team consisted of members from the sexual reproductive rights coalition, Women in Sexual Reproductive Rights , The Women’s Legal Centre, Lawyers for Human Rights, Amnesty International, Triangle and SWEAT.
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Wills act challenged by Muslim Widows.
Parliament must dismiss Mr Mduduzi Manana as an MP, to send a clear message that violence against women will not be tolerated.
“Many Muslim spouses and their children face stigma due to their traditional marriages and the view that their children are illegitimate."
THE WLC LAUNCHES AN APPLICATION SO SEE FORMER DEPUTY MINISTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION FIRED AS A MINISTER AND A MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.
The Women's Legal Centre wants President Jacob Zuma to fire Deputy Higher Education Minister, Mduduzi Manana. In a letter to the president, the organization says it will launch an urgent court application if Zuma fails to do this. Manana has recently been under intense public scrutiny for assaulting a woman at a Johannesburg restaurant last week. Advocate Bronwyn Pithey comments on the issue.
Further to this the WLC has written to Parliament to insist that Mr Manana is dismissed as a member of parliament. Read more
MUSLIM MARRIAGES WORKSHOP AT THE MARKET DELI AND LEGAL CAFE
On Saturday 16 September our Director Seehaam Samaai, attended a report back workshop on the Muslim Marriages Public Interest Case that was postponed. The workshop was hosted at The Market Deli & The Legal Cafe,
THANK YOU TO OLD MUTUAL FOR YOUR GENEROUS PAMPER DAY.
A pamper day is just what the ladies at the WLC needed, after a very busy women’s month!
THE NON-RECOGNITION OF MUSLIM MARRIAGES
The non-recognition of Muslim marriages two decade long Law Reform process. to have a look at our infographic that explains this process.
From Monday 28 to Thursday 07 September, the matter was heard by Judges S Desai, G Salie-Hlophe and NP Boqwana, at the Cape High Court.
The failure to grant legal recognition to Muslim Marriages has far reaching implications and consequences for women in Muslim Marriages as they do not have the same protections offered to women in civil marriages . WLC launched an application aimed at providing women in Muslim marriages with legal protections. WLC is not directing government to legislate the Muslim Marriages Personal law Bill but requesting the State to fulfil their constitutional obligations to protect, promote and fulfil the rights of Muslim women and to recognise Muslim Marriages as valid marriages for all purposes in South Africa and to regulate the consequences of such recognition in whatever form. Whether by enacting specific legislation or amending existing legislation or amending the common law.
[read more="Read More" less="Read Less"] This case must be seen within our own historical context and how intersecting issues of class , race, gender impact on the daily realities of Muslim women married in terms of legally unrecognised Muslim marriages. Muslim women in South Africa have multiple forms of intersecting identities which all impact on their lives. This case therefore cannot be seen though one marginalised lens which is religion. Muslim women in SA have endured systematic injustice and inequality within society and the State has an obligation in terms of our constitution to address the historical and intersectional discrimination perpetuated against Muslim women. [/read]
SOUTH AFRICAN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION AGM
We attended the South African Women Lawyers Association Annual General Meeting and our Director, Seehaam Samaai was a speaker on the program. She spoke about the impact of state capture on women's access to resources and about the Ending Impunity campaign.
WE CANNOT BE SILENT ART EXHIBITION
The Women’s Legal Centre supported this great exhibition by highlighting how abuse victims tend to under-report crimes mainly because of secondary victimisation when entering the justice system. South Africa’s current justice system, in particular the police, is not resourced to provide victims with proper support.