In their journeys as migrants, however, these women also face corrupt and evil people who exploit women who wish to cross the border. They are already vulnerable, as women, as foreign nationals, and often as unskilled labourers. The xenophobic attacks in South Africa are not unlike those that have occurred in other countries before, but because almost 50% of migrants in the South African Development Community (SADC) region are women, a gender perspective on the xenophobic attacks in South Africa is justified. A gender perspective also corresponds to the call of Romi Fuller, Project Manager of the Violence and Transition Project at the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation in South Africa, who called for a gendered focus on this issue in a recent opinion piece (2). In this article, Fuller laments the “double jeopardy” of women migrants, who are not only vulnerable as migrants, women and unskilled labourers, but also as subjects of the displaced anger and hatefulness of people who themselves were sheltered by other Africans not more than a few decades ago. Xenophobia targets women and children, says Fuller, because they represent the settling of foreigners in South Africa. Migrant men may be seen as temporary visitors, but if their families settle down, this is associated with serious and long-term impact on the host country.

Most societies host some forms of gender inequality, developing countries notably so. Here, women face daily incongruence between their own access to resources and bargaining power in society, and those of men. These inequalities are often deeply ingrained and stubbornly maintained in cultural and religious communities, so that they require significant events, mobilisation and time to change. The Global Gender Gap Report argues that if the gaps in access to resources between men and women can be measured, as the report does, they can be improved, hence the Report aims to provide decision makers with a ‘snapshot’ of their respective gendered situations. This ‘snapshot’ is presented as a ranking, comparing gender gaps between countries and revealing the opportunities that lie beyond reducing gender gaps in access to resources. Each country’s profile provides a comprehensive detailed report of over 30 gender-related variables, as well as the original data used to create the Index and additional information on country-specific legal and social influential factors.

This year the Commission held its annual meeting from 25 February to 7 March, and focused on “Financing for gender equality and empowerment of women”. The meeting aimed to develop recommendations to accelerate action in this regard at regional, national and global levels. Several other themes were addressed around the centrality of this theme, such as “Indicators to measure violence against women”. The theme recognises that despite advances in gender mainstreaming and women’s empowerment, more funds are imperative in the process of attaining gender equity, notably in countries that struggle with issues such as war and poverty.

According to the Social Watch, the Gender Equity Index (GEI) is in place to position and classify countries according to a selection of indicators relevant to gender inequity, and based on internationally available and comparable information. The index was created in 2004, and broadly speaking is based on economic activity, empowerment and education. The economic dimension of the index measures gaps in women's participation in the labour market and gaps in the salaries earned by women, compared to those of men. From an education perspective, the GEI looks at enrolment gaps between boys and girls. The index measures equity based on a scale ranging from 0 to 100, with lower values indicating greater inequity and higher values indicating greater equity. GEI is said to present information on 90% of the world population: 40 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, 36 in Europe, 28 in Latin America and the Caribbean, 19 in the Middle East and North Africa, 18 in East Asia and the Pacific, 6 in Central Asia, 5 in South Asia and 2 in North America.

Reports accusing a group of French citizens in Chad of the abduction of 103 children have been a topic of much discussion over the past few months. The group was accused of illegally transporting the children from Chad to Europe, in an attempt to deliver the children from a state of poverty and impoverishment. These French nationals stated that they were taking the children, supposedly orphans, to Europe to place them in “host families”. However, Chadians reacted in anger to these actions, saying that the children were being trafficked and were going to be used as slaves and in sex trade. Following their arrest, the group claimed that they belonged to Children Rescue, a French NGO created by the association, “L'Arche de Zoe”, which is run by fire-fighters in the Paris suburb of Argenteuil. However, it has now been discovered that claims that the children were being rescued were in fact untrue. This sets a bad reputation for NGOs internationally, and could lead to the drafting of strict measures to control the movements of international corporations intending to rescue “vulnerable” children. Further affecting this situation is the fact pointed out by the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights who have stated that "Religion is a very sensitive question in this very conservative Islamic region, and this affair could be mentioned in the next statement by Al-Qaeda…We can now fear that human rights workers could become targets of Islamic terrorists". The Chadian authorities have charged the French nationals with abduction and fraud, and they face a possible five to twenty years hard labour if convicted.

Male circumcision is generally performed for hygienic purposes. This is based on the understanding that the foreskin contains moisture from being covered, and if not cleaned properly, dirt could build up, causing bacteria and could thus develop an infection. A circumcised penis is therefore perceived to be far more hygienic, as the tip tends to be drier, and remains cleaner. In addition to these hygiene-related reasons for male circumcision, there are also religious or spiritual beliefs linked to its practice. In some religions for example, a circumcised man is believed to have formed a covenant with God and is perceived as righteous or “right with God”. In other cultures, circumcision is celebrated as a rite of passage into manhood. This is generally conducted by having a group of young men sent to an excluded area where they are taught about issues of manhood in their culture, and then take part in a variety of activities, which are considered to bare lessons necessary for manhood. During this time, circumcision is performed, and the transition from being a young man to becoming a man takes place. These newly delivered men then return home to much celebration.

Primarily inspired by these events in August, over half a century ago, the South African Government formed the “Progressive Women’s Movement”. Through this movement, South African women are acknowledged as far more than just a homogeneous group, and bring together many different groups in support of the development of women. These groups include, but are not limited to researchers, faith- based women’s groups and feminist groups. The overall aim of the movement is to realise gender equality and fight against any form of gender discrimination.

At the opening of the Summit, the former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson said, “I want to reach out to you to help us change how we understand human rights”. Robinson said that this is because human rights are not understood at a grassroots level. She maintains that there are only certain rights understood by people, and specifically by women, at this level, such as rights to access water. The concept of ‘women’s rights’ has been contested by some to harbour in it some discrimination towards men. With the development of gender equality, a focus on women was vital in order to bring about the necessary change in how women were previously viewed. The goal was to empower and develop women. This new focus brought about a more critical look at basic human rights. The main motivation behind the gender movement was the belief that women did not (and still do not, in many instances) enjoy basic human rights. A re-examination of these human rights was therefore essential, and with this, the concept of women’s rights was born. It was argued that through this new movement, women should not become a ‘special’ group, but rather just a group with specific needs that must be addressed. Robinson’s intention was for these “human rights” to be interpreted in a manner that would be meaningful to women at the grassroots level, because it is at this level that everyday women are faced with conditions in which their human rights are often abused. If women are not aware of their entitlement to these rights, they will continue to suffer.