GL Opinion and Commentary Service
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The Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service provides mainstream media with fresh perspectives on the news.
Initiated in 2003, the Service aims to produce ten opinion pieces each month from writers across Africa on topical news items. These articles are integrated into various media sources and are uploaded onto the GMDC website for online viewing.
This service provides an opportunity for contributers to speak their mind on a variety of relevant and often controversial subjects.
To view articles please scroll below or for specific search terms, click here
If you are interested in contributing to the service or publishing any of the articles, contact Saeanna Chingamuka at editor@genderlinks.org.za.
*When publishing articles from the Gender Links Opinion and Commentary Service, the Service must be cited.
Refaire sa vie n’est pas toujours une sinécure
28 November 11
Regional relevance: Mauritius
La vie de David n’a jamais été un long fleuve tranquille. Après un divorce, il essaie de refaire sa vie avec Isabelle. Croyant avoir enfin trouvé le bonheur, il touche du doigt l’enfer. [read more]
Life in the shelter
28 November 11
Regional relevance: Africa, Mauritius
The best thing that has happened to me is living in the shelter. I never thought a shelter could give me so much happiness. I am well surrounded by friends. I am learning a lot and being looked after by caring people. [read more]
International: Gender and climate justice begin at home
27 November 11
Regional relevance: International
“Beware of bursting storm water drains!” warned a sign along the route taken by gender activists marking the start of the Sixteen Days of Activism campaign with a “Take Back the Night” march in Alexandra, Johannesburg last week. [read more]
20 years of 16 days of Activism, how far are we?
25 November 11
Regional relevance: Regional
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the global Sixteen Days of Activism on gender violence campaign, and 10 years of the annual commemoration in Southern Africa. Each year during Sixteen Days, we stop and ponder achievements and accomplishments, and assess how much further still to go. As we observe a decade of... [read more]
Diary of an activist at the start of the Sixteen Days of Activism
25 November 11
Regional relevance: Regional
Lusaka, 24 November: It’s five am, the day before the International Day of No Violence Against Women that kicks off the Sixteen days of Activism campaign. My alarm rings barely six hours after I arrive in the Zambian capital and I am in a panic as I will be speaking in a few hours about why we need better ways to... [read more]
Media attention needed for cyber abuses
23 November 11
Regional relevance: South Africa
Facebook, the world’s most popular social network with over 750 million members, has become an everyday feature of modern society, allowing users to stay connected with people from all across the globe. However, the relative ease with which it is possible to become “friends” with total strangers on the social... [read more]
Police data on gender violence still falls short
23 November 11
Regional relevance: South Africa
Johannesburg, 23 November 2011: The annual Sixteen Days of Activism campaign begins this Friday, again focusing attention on the problem of gender violence. However, we still far from sufficiently understanding the problem and its potential solutions. A prevalence and attitude survey conducted by Gender Links (GL)... [read more]
When abused women kill
22 November 11
Regional relevance: Malawi
Forty-year-old Patuma Rahimu thinks about her husband Julio everyday - the one who continuously abused her. A black eye, bruised nose, once a broken arm, all mementos from her husband’s beatings - until the night she killed him.
[read more]
For the love of my daughters
20 November 11
Regional relevance: Regional
My married life lasted for 25 years and during all this time my husband beat me. I have five daughters and they suffered as much as I did, physically as well as psychologically. Before marriage, my whole idea about married life was just like in the movies, but still, I knew that my husband and I would undergo... [read more]
Namibia: Underneath the short skirt!
15 November 11 | (1) Comment
Regional relevance: Namibia
Early this year, a reader of The Namibian newspaper commented on the SMS page that "the length of girl's school skirts is so short and as a man, I am tempted. Please do something about this." There were a few responses which implied that most citizens did not take the SMS seriously.
Conversely, in 2010 Metcalfe... [read more]
