A Country for my Daughter - A film about Women, Violence and the Law

[tabatha]

South Africa has one of the highest rates of gender based violence in the world. This is not the country that Nonkosi Khumalo, a human rights activist, wants her daughter to grow up in.

Nonkosi is the chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign and mother of a little girl called Owethu. She is also dedicated to the struggle for equality in South Africa, especially for women.

In "A Country For My Daughter" Nonkosi travels around the country investigating the stories of brave women whose court cases have transformed the law in South Africa for the better. The cases range from rape within a family to holding the Minister of Safety and Security liable, in cases where police were involved in violence against women. Through these stories, Nonkosi learns of the laws available to protect South African women and how they can be used.

In a country where many sexual assaults go unreported, the struggle must extend beyond the courtroom and into communities. Nonkosi visits Khayelitsha, where social mobilization brought justice to Nandipha Makeke's family by prompting the arrest and prosecution of those who had raped and killed her.

http://www.beatit.co.za/archive-documentaries/a-country-for-my-daughter

[niyad]

1. k and r--thank you for bringing this to our attention

[Odin2005]

2. Not suprising, given that their president is a rapist.

[tabatha]

3. This was happening when Mandela and Mbeki were presidents.

It has nothing to do with who the President is.

[Odin2005]

4. I meant that it shows how bad things are there...

...that a rapist can get elected president.

[tabatha]

5. The reason for Zuma's election is that he was more socialist than Mbeki.

He may actually get to implement a health care system that is better than in the USA.

Mbkei did not do the country well because his economic policies favored the wealthy Whites.

As for the level of rape - this is not an excuse, but an observation of cause and effect - the Blacks in that country had been brutalized for over 200 years with devastating consequences for their culture and mental health. There was a post here about low IQ and prejudice - well, because of poor natal care and unhealthy foods for over 200 years, there are many with low IQ, and have prejudices against women. Not all, but many.

As for health foods, the maids in many homes were given lots of white bread, jam, and sugary tea for lunch with low wages to boot. No protein, no vitamins, and hence many have diabetes and are overweight. If you read the story of Miriam Makeba, she was always very careful with what she ate, but she had both the money and opportunity to do so.

The people in this film are extremely bright, and I salute them for what they are doing.

[etherealtruth]

6. Thank you ...

This is important for all women (actually all people). I just emailed your post to my daughter ... it is particularly poignant for her as her father is a South African National and s he still has a large number of relatives residing there.

[duhneece]

7. Much work needed. What a shero. nt