MEDIA STATEMENT New Programme of Action for the National Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender/Intersex (LGBTI)

Task

Team

on

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development (DOJ&CD) has convened a National Task Team (NTT) to strengthen interventions aimed at promoting and enhancing the rights of LGBTI Communities. The NTT comprises of members of civil society, South African Human Rights Commission, the Foundation for Human Rights and Government Representatives. The NTT’s immediate priority is to address addresses violence against LGBTI people. The NTT has developed a programme of action, following a series of intensive workshops in June 2013. These workshops also saw the finalisation of its Terms of Reference. The action plan includes the development of a long-term strategy to address violence against LGBTI people as well as the monitoring of pending and unresolved criminal cases involving LGBTI victims. Training and sensitization has been identified as one of the priority areas and as such, work has started on an audit of available training materials to sensitise government officials to the service needs of LGBTI people. This will feed into the development of new curricula. The new training module will be available in 2014 and will sensitise officials and equip them with needed competencies. A communication strategy and action plan is under development and will raise awareness on issues of discrimination against LGBTI people as well as activities to strengthen communication within the LGBTI civil society sector. The action plan is realistic and achievable. Dawie Nel from OUT, a LGBTI NGO and NTT member, said “We are greatly encouraged by the renewed commitment of Task Team Members to work and to get things done. The issue of violence against LGBTI people is urgent and we must commit to seriously address this.” Advocate Ooshara Sewpaul, NTT member from the DOJ&CD, believes that significant progress has been made “We are committed to further equality for all in South Africa. This not only involves the passing of relevant legislation but also actively working for social equality. Our Task Team will therefore also address attitudes of our own staff and the broader public. We are joining hands with civil society and want to make an impact”. The work of the NTT is driven and guided by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa which promises equality and dignity on the basis of sexual orientation. The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development remains committed to the ideal of a human rights based society and several pieces of legislation such as the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (PEPUDA) (2000) have been developed to deal with discrimination. The Department urges the public to also use the Equality Courts should they experience discrimination especially on the basis of their sexual orientation.

Enquiries 1

Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga Spokesperson for the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development 0836418141 Issued by the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development: Media Research and Liaison 28 June 2013

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