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The Centre for the Study of Violence Research (CSVR) Domestic Violence Act conference ended on Friday with little uncertainty that the Domestic Violence Act has been progressive over the past ten years.  The delegates only seemed to agree that it only provided protection if implemented correctly.

The purpose of the DVA conference was to reflect on the ten years of the DVA by looking at what has worked, what is not working and the way forward.  When asked to list what has worked in the past years, the delegates did not have much to say but they had a lot of recommendations.  

On Friday at the Domestic Violence Act (DVA) conference, Sithokozile Thabethe from the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZALWA) spoke about the role of traditional leaders in domestic violence cases in Zimbabwe.  The act permits the chiefs to adjudicate psychological and economic domestic violence cases.

Yesterday was the first day of the CSVR Domestic Violence Act Conference.  The conference is held at the Parktonian Hotel in Braamfontein and will continue for the next three days.

According to Adele Kirsten the director of CSVR, the purpose of the conference is to reflect on the past years of the implementation of the DVA by looking at what has worked, what did not and what the way forward is.

When thinking about the way forward, Kirsten said that we should keep in mind that the external climate differs completely from ten years ago.  

A session that was supposed to be about experiences of hate crimes, and remembering people we have lost due to homophobia, ended up into an emotional session. The session started well with presentations from the panels. Chan from Zambia, who identifies as a transgendered man said, he feels and has seen that there is no unity within the feminist movement. When issues affecting women are addressed, it is not very often you hear trans people mentioned.

written 15 November, posted 16 November 

The AWID experience has really given me a lot to think about but I am having difficulty documenting this thinking. I don't know where to start!

What a match, what an effort...I call it a radical and dynamic movement. I am in love with the spirit of the movement...

I am really tired, just came back from the One in Nine campaign match, we went through town from the CT International Conversion center to the Provincial Administrator to deliver a memorandum to the premier of the Western Cape, Lynn Brown.

The Feminist Tech eXchange took place on the 10 - 12 of November in Cape Town, Monkey Valley. The event brought more than 50 women from different countires in and outside Africa world, to discuss issues around feminism and the use of Information, Communications, and Technology. The politics of feminism and ICT, as well as providing an open space for discussion and training.

What an Inspiring event it is. The 11th AWID Forum, the event brought a lot of women together from all around the world. These women identify as feminist, I do too now with confidence.

And so it ends!  One of the most amazing experience I have had this year.  

The participants in the digital story track successfully completed their stories.  They were all so beautiful even though they had little time to produce them. 

Today is the second of the Feminist Tech Exchange taking place in Cape Town at Monkey Valley.  Different amazing women from all over the world have all gathered here to learn more about the linkage between information communication technologies and women's rights.