Masimanyane praised for its work

Stopping off in East London to observe the work of the Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre has almost become compulsory for international women’s rights activists who visit South Africa.

The organisation, which operates five centres across Buffalo City Metro, has an international profile more in keeping with well-resourced agencies, with significant footprints in developed countries.

But the quality of the work being done in the East London and Duncan Village victim support centres, in magistrate’s courts in the central business district and Mdantsane, at the Empilisweni Woodlands Aids education and training centre in King William’s Town, and at Zanempilo health centre, is what sets Masimanyane apart.

It is also thanks to the tireless efforts of executive director Dr Lesley Ann Foster and her team to engage with national and global human rights activists and agencies, including the UN and other multilateral bodies.

This week, Masimanyane’s work was singled out by the United Nations special rapporteur on violence against women, Croatian national Dr Dubravka Simonovic, who devoted more than a day of her week-long assessment of violence against women in South Africa, listening to victims and activists working with the organisation.

Simonovic praised the work done by Foster: “I am very thrilled with the work done by Lesley Ann. To go around the world in her capacity as a representative of a non-governmental entity to promote international norms is extremely important.”

Earlier this year, Foster and her team hosted Norway’s ombud for gender equality and anti-discrimination, Sunniva Orstravik, who was equally impressed with Masimanyane’s work, calling it “inspiring”.

The organisation’s 16 Days of Activism campaign this year included events in Mthatha, Mount Frere and Johannesburg, covering topics from ukuthwala (the practice of abducting young girls and forcing them into marriage) to unwanted teenage pregnancies.

Masimanyane deputy director Chris Harper says the organisation has been able to bring many international women’s activists to East London from African countries such as Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya, and also from Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas.

Masimanyane staff have also travelled to the UN headquarters in New York and to UN agencies in Geneva to present reports to delegates.

Junior and senior staff have also conducted training overseas on specific success stories such as work done in local courts.

Masimanyane currently chairs the secretariat for an International Network to End Violence against Women, drawing together organisations in about 42 countries focused on women in the global south.