National Task Force (NTT) on Violence Involving Gender and Sexual Orientation
SEMA represents civil society on the National Task Team’s (NTT) working group on gender- and sexual orientation-based violence. In order to create a National Intervention Strategy to handle “corrective rape,” the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development ordered the formation of a National Task Team (NTT) in March 2011. The NTT’s goal is to create a national intervention plan to combat violence against LGBTI people based on their gender and sexual orientation, particularly in the criminal justice system.
Why do LGBTIQ persons encounter so much violence?
Even though the South African Constitution and other laws provide legal protection for LGBTIQ individuals, many South Africans harbor prejudice toward others based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. People who identify as LGBTIQ live their daily lives with this hostility permeating them. In a 2016 report, members of the LGBTIQ community provided the following statistics:
Killings of LGBTQ
41% of those polled know someone who was killed because they were or were thought to be LGBTIQ.
Threats & Discrimination
In the previous two years, 1 in 5 people who identify as LGBTIQ have experienced violence threats. In schools, discrimination was experienced by 56%.
Verbal Abuse/hate crime
39% reported experiencing verbal abuse because of their identification in the previous 24 months. These figures demonstrate the widespread prejudice South Africans with LGBTIQ identities face.
We support LGBTIQ victims of hate crimes
SEMA provides survivors of hate crimes with comprehensive support from the moment they report the incident through the end of the legal process, which might take many years depending on the particular instance. When crimes against LGBTIQ people are perpetrated, it’s critical to support the victim’s family and support network as well as the survivor. The organization and mobilized partners must be present in situations where the victim is deceased and has no relatives. Without it, the victim is absorbed by the State and is powerless to speak for themselves or be represented in court. In picture is 34-year-old Sphamandla Khoza from Ntuzuma who was brutally murdered in KZN for a suspected hate crime.
make a donation today!
Online giving is quick and simple, and it makes a difference in the lives of LGBT people. All you need to make a donation is a debit or credit card, which is really easy to do. Regular donations enable us to maintain our long-term viability and support LGBT individuals. Alternatively, you can email info@sexualminoritiesafrica.org to set up a Standing Order through your bank.