Wake Up Americans and get educated on these important human rights issues that you will not find in our USA local or national mainstream media. Thanks to SAfAIDS for the selection of important human rights stories:
Exposing Zimbabwe’s illegal trade in life-saving AIDS drugs for recreational use
A little-known side effect of some ARVs is that they work on the brain similarly to LSD. Drug users have discovered that this effect is magnified if the drugs are crushed and smoked. Cassim is shocked to discover that a drugs subculture based around these drugs has grown in Zimbabwe. Users show him how they turn these drugs into recreational highs and explain how the easy availability of ARVs has meant they have become the cheap drug of choice for many of Zimbabwe’s 85% unemployed. Read more on: http://pr.aljazeera.com/post/103028409905/exposing-zimbabwes-illegal-trade-in-life-saving-aids
Female genital mutilation: violating the sexual and reproductive health of young girls
We were shocked to see images of young girls going through a genital mutilation ceremony in Kenya. Female genital mutilation is considered as a rite of passage to womanhood. It is a non- medical practice involving the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, can lead to haemorrhaging, psychological damage, complications in childbirth, fistula and even death.
See images on: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/fgm-images-of- circumcision-ceremony-show-distressing-reality-of-female-genital-mutilation-9863029.html
There is still need for a lot of engagement of the communities so that they understand the dangers associated with the practices and protect the lives of young and innocent girls. Does one have to be mutilated to be considered a woman?
News making the headlines
African Union Pledges a Stop to Child Marriage
PEMBA, MOZAMBIQUE—
Mozambique has one of the world’s highest rates of child marriage – driven by strong social and cultural traditions, despite the practice being illegal. Early marriage compromises girls’ right to education and can have a devastating impact on their health. The African Union has pledged to stop all child marriages within a generation. Read more on: http://www.voanews.com/content/african-union-pledges-a-stop-to-child-marriage/2524214.html
HIV-positive women forcibly sterilised in Namibia, says court
WINDHOEK (AFP) –
Namibia’s Supreme Court on Monday found that HIV-positive women were forcibly sterilised after giving birth — a decision hailed by activists as a victory for women throughout Africa. The southern African nation’s highest court dismissed a government appeal against a judgment holding it liable for sterilising three HIV-positive women in state hospitals without their informed consent. Read more on: http://www.france24.com/en/20141103-hiv-positive-women-forcibly- sterilised-namibia-says-court/?aef_campaign_date=2014-11-03&aef_campaign_ref=partage_aef
Woman Stripped Naked for Dressing “Improperly”
In Kenya, a video of a woman who was reportedly stripped naked in Nairobi has made its way online and left many Kenyans outraged. Such experiences have also been noted in Uganda and Zimbabwe where women have taken to the street to campaign against miniskirt mobs. Advocacy groups say the attacks are blamed on the new anti-pornography law, which has become guise for sexual harassment in the country. An online campaign has been launched on #MyDressMyChoice to challenge the miniskirt mobs.
After reading this, we were in agreement with one reader who stated: “It’s actually a representation of the kind of men we have raised. Men who can’t respect women”
The video of the violent attack is available for viewing on http://stream.aljazeera.com/story/201411131934-0024345.
Warning: Video contains nudity and disturbing images.