ArticlesMediaGender-based ViolenceTelling Us What Counts in Rape StatisticsLast year, when the rape statistics went down, this was offered as proof of the police's success in preventing rape. This year, when the statistics went up ("Change is fear". September 23), the increase was explained as proof of greater public confidence in the police, thus encouraging women to report the crime. These self-congratulatory claims, offered without so much as… Read More CSVRSeptember 30, 2005
ArticlesMediaInequalities, Memory and Memorialisation, Transitional JusticeWhose Heritage Are We Celebrating Anyway?As the 24th of September draws closer, many of us lament the fact that this year, the last holiday in the year, until the December festivities that is, falls on a Saturday, and sadly not a day off work for many of us. Never fear, the annual heritage day bash hosted by government, promises to be the usual eclectic mix… Read More CSVRSeptember 22, 2005
ArticlesMediaInequalities, Social CohesionZuma Saga and the Rule of Law: Justice Must Be Seen to Be TrustedLast week's meeting of the African National Congress executive committee, including the commitment by President Thabo Mbeki and ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma to work together, may provide a way forward for the tripartite alliance in managing internal tensions which have reached boiling point following the judgment in the Schabir Shaik trial. But it is not clear what impact it… Read More CSVRSeptember 20, 2005
ArticlesMediaTransitional JusticeThe Establishment of the South African Disappearance Task Team, the Roots for a Regional Network?The workshop organised by Linking Solidarity in 2003 in order to explore the possibilities for an African network stimulated the Southern African organisations in getting together to see if they could work together more and also to look for a possibility of founding a special Southern African network. Polly Dewhirst gives an update on the latest developments in the Southern… Read More CSVRSeptember 1, 2005
ArticlesMediaPeacebuilding, Transitional JusticeUps and Downs for SudanRichard Smith – who serves on the ACTION Steering Committee member and is active in the Peace and Development Platform (PAD) - was in Sudan at the same time as Garang to assist in facilitating a peacebuilding training for members of community youth groups from across the country. The programme was supported by the Azza Women's Association, the Centre for… Read More CSVRSeptember 1, 2005
ArticlesMediaRacism, Transitional JusticeFear and Loathing in the Media: Dealing with RacismIn August 2000, a group of journalists and editors at a national newspaper sat around a conference table during a regular editorial meeting. The subject of discussion was the South African Human Rights Commission's recently published report on its inquiry into racism in the media. More precisely, the subject of discussion was how the newspaper would cover this report. What… Read More CSVRSeptember 1, 2005
