TakeBackTheTech

The Bill was drafted by Justice Alliance of South Africa (JASA), an anti-gay, anti-choice organisation. The countries mentioned by JASA as having enacted similar legislation to the proposal Bill – Yemen and the United Arab Emirates – both censor LGBT as well as political content that they deem undesirable.

Taking into consideration the social context within which laws operate in South Africa, where violence against lesbian women and transgender people is common, “a law focusing on sexual content is likely to see content that focuses on lesbian sexuality or even women’s sexuality as deviant and undesirable” says Shackleton.

“The Law Reform Commission in South Africa, tasked with investigating internet pornography should consider freeing up funds from the Universal Access Fund to promote positive content by women and for women,” says Shackleton. “That way we tip the balance of content in favour of more positive representations of women and more diversity.”

“The Law Reform Commission’s investigation at the very least must be framed by considering that children and women are not the same entity. Children are a separate category of people that require very different legislative approaches than those addressing women,” Shackleton concludes.

One World Platform for South East Europe (OWPSEE) joins women’s organisations in Bosnia and Herzegonia in protest over media’s irresponsibility in the handling of a case involving a 15-year-old girl who was forced into prostitution. Religious, school and other prominent community leaders are possibly implicated in accusations of human trafficking. Valentina Pellizzer, OWPSEE’s Executive Director and APC WNSP member, expressed outrage at media coverage that exposed the under-age victim’s name, photo, school, address, and family members in blatant violation of ethical and legal norms for protection of victims’ safety and privacy. Local women’s rights organisations are calling for immediate and effective action from authorities to address increasing cases of human trafficking. The organisations are joined by professional journalist associations in demanding sanction of the sensationalist reporting in this case, as well as public apology to the victim and her family.

Del 25 de noviembre al 10 de diciembre el mensaje apareció fuerte y claro – sea en una transmisión de audio en Malasia, canales de chat (Internet Relay Chat) en Brasil, una marcha de protesta en Second Life, canciones en Pakistán, agendas en Argentina, tweets en México, afiches en cibercafés en Congo o un mural en las calles de Soweto, Sudáfrica.

From 25 November to 10 December, the message came across loud and clear – whether it was via audiocast in Malaysia, chat relay in Brazil, protest march in Second Life, song-writing in Pakistan, calendars in Argentina, tweets in Mexico, posters in cybercafes in the Congo, or a mural on the streets of Soweto in South Africa. In over a dozen languages and through all platforms and medium both online and off, people took control of technology to end violence against women during the Take Back the Tech! campaign.

Women’sNet, with partner, Artists Say No to Violence Against Women and Children, held an event in Soweto, Johannesburg. They used the occasion of International Human Rights Day, which marks the last day of the 16 Days of Activism to draw attention to the role that new media has to play both as a tool for abuse and as a tool for protest.