[socialactionfoundationforequity:14572 LGBT Rights in Name Only?

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From: Human Rights Watch <news@hrw.org>
To: Avnish Jolly <avnishjolly@yahoo.com>
Sent: Friday, 9 December 2011, 5:06
Subject: LGBT Rights in Name Only?

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here. December 8, 2011 Follow us on           LGBT Rights in Name Only? South Africa's LGBTs Face Rape, Assault "I was walking back from the club," said Puleng, 23. "Four guys raped me. I was screaming. They said to me, 'We just wanted to show you you're a woman.' I thought it was my fault. I thought maybe by saying openly [that] I was a lesbian, I provoked them." A new report shows how South Africa's lesbians and transgender men face extensive discrimination and violence. Almost every person we interviewed said they live in fear of sexual assault, and those who rape or beat them are almost never punished. Most people we interviewed were reluctant to approach police for protection, a stance reinforced by the authorities' abusive reactions. Of the few people we interviewed who had tried to report these attacks, most said the police ridiculed or harassed them. Lesbians and transgender men may also experience discrimination in social settings and in the community, at schools and other public places, and in finding and keeping jobs. One transgender man said his teacher would call him names and tried to chase him out of the classroom. They often lose the support of their families, making them even more vulnerable; those who don't dress conventionally are especially at risk. Read their personal testimony » Photo: © 2009 Dipika Nath/Human Rights Watch Child Marriage in Yemen Spurs Abuse Girls Who Marry Lose Educational Opportunities, Risk Health Problems In Yemen, data show that 52 percent of girls are married before they reach 18, and 14 percent before age 15 – sometimes to much older men. There is no minimum age to be wed, and in some rural areas, girls as young as 8 are married. These early marriages often lead to human rights abuses, a new report says, by jeopardizing girls' access to education, increasing their risk of health problems, and keeping women second-class citizens. Boys are seldom forced into child marriages. When they marry, most girls are unable to complete their education, and some quickly become pregnant. Studies show that girls with limited education and power in their marriages have little chance of controlling the number and spacing of their children, increasing their risk of reproductive health problems. Wives often live with their husband's extended families, and some women we interviewed said their husbands and in-laws verbally or physically abused them. Girls are less likely than older women to be assertive and stand up to their abusers. Over the past months, demonstrators in Yemen called for a range of reforms, including measures to guarantee equality between women and men. Banning child marriage should be a priority. Read more » Photo: © 2011 Stephanie Sinclair/VII Most Popular Headlines DR Congo: Rein in Security Forces Tensions are running high given the logistical complications of organizing the election. Security forces should be protecting people, not fueling the violence. Thailand: End Harsh Punishments for Lese Majeste Offenses The severity of penalties being meted out for lese majeste offenses in Thailand is shocking. The new government seems to be responding to questions about its loyalty to the monarchy by filing countless lese majeste charges. US: Step Up Pressure on Allies Using Child Soldiers The independent commission's report gives Bahraini authorities an opportunity to remedy some of their gross abuses by releasing all persons convicted or held for exercising their rights to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly. It is crucial for Bahrain to send a strong message that there will be no impunity for the human rights crimes documented by the Bassiouni commission. Editor's Picks "Eye-Hunting" in Cairo: The Military's Assault on Reporters by Daniel Williams Huffington Post Dozens of eye injuries from rubber bullets have marked the crackdown on protesters in Tahrir Square. "Eye-hunters," Egyptians are calling the armed police who aim at head-level. Russia: Respect Right to Peaceful Protest The protesters have a right to express their concerns about the way the elections were carried out. Arresting peaceful protesters and imposing jail time hardly speaks well for the government and is unacceptable in a democratic society. The parliamentary election on December 4 was marred and criticized by international observers. US: President Should Veto Detainee Bill President Barack Obama should veto this attempt to make detention without trial a permanent feature of US law. This bill would give a green light to abusive governments around the world to do the same and would take the prosecution of terrorism suspects out of the hands of the civilian justice system. Podcasts Yemen: The Fight Against Child Marriage With researcher Nadya Khalife and human rights lawyer Shada Nasser Publications World Report 2011 Purchase a bound copy of the edition Download PDF "How Come You Allow Little Girls to Get Married?" Child Marriage in Yemen A Poisonous Mix Child Labor, Mercury, and Artisanal Gold Mining in Mali "We'll Show You You're a Woman" Violence and Discrimination against Black Lesbians and Transgender Men in South Africa     Home | Take Action | Donate Privacy  Human Rights Watch - 350 Fifth Avenue, 34th Floor New York, NY 10118 USA Tel: 1-(212) 290-4700 | news@hrw.org

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