Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Democratic South Africa was based on a constitution that is meant to have democratic values that promote human dignity and non-discrimination. Such democratic values were put in place to ensure that the human rights violations that took place in apartheid South Africa would not take place again and that everyone, especially those previously oppressed are treated with respect and dignity. Despite the guaranteed human rights that are supposed to apply to everyone, lesbians and other members of the LGBT community still face discrimination because of their sexual orientation. Nell and Shaprito (2011, p12) point out that “in stark contrast with constitutional guarantees of freedom and human rights for all, research indicates that homophobic victimization is an endemic part of the South African landscape”.

Le rapport de pouvoir qui régit les relations entre homme et femme engendre des inégalités qui sont la non-effectivité des droits des femmes, les stéréotypes ciblant souvent les femmes et les violences à l’égard des femmes. Ces inégalités notables en période normale ou de paix s’aggravent durant les crises sociopolitiques et de conflits armés où la violence sexospécifique est désormais érigée en arme de guerre pour détruire l’adversaire, son identité et son peuple. L’objectif de ces recherches est de relever les impacts, les enjeux du genre et de la réalité identitaire dans les crises et conflits tout comme dans le processus d’édification de la paix. A travers la vie sociopolitique du Togo et de la Côte d’Ivoire pris pour cas d’espèce, il s’agit d’observer la situation de crises et de conflits armés dans un pays, l’impact des appartenances identitaires et l’aggravation de l’inégalité du genre, puis relever les conséquences des crises et l’importance des femmes dont la négligence participe à l’échec des processus de paix, enfin viser la prise en compte des identités et du genre dans les processus de recherches de la paix. / The power dynamics that govern the relationship between man and woman creates inequalities that are the non-effectiveness of the rights of women, the stereotypes often associated to women as well as violence against them. These significant inequalities in normal times or peace times, worsen during the sociopolitical crises and armed conflicts where gender based violence (GBV) is now established as a weapon of war to destroy the opponent, its identity and its people. The objective of this research is to address the impacts, issues of gender and identity during crises and conflicts as well as during peacebuilding processes. Using the socio-political life of Togo and Côte d'Ivoire as case studies, the research seeks to observe the situation of crisis and armed conflict in a country, the impact of belonging to an identity, and the worsening of gender inequality and addresses the consequences of the crises and the importance of women whose negligence contributes to the failure of peace processes, and finally aims at the inclusion of identity and gender as important considerations in peacebuilding process.

Female genital cutting is a problem that has taken several dimensions and continues to be practiced despite enormous efforts and resources invested by governments,non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders to ensure that the practice is discontinued worldwide. This study was conducted with the primary objective of assessing the views and perceptions of NGOs on the practice of female genital cutting in Nigeria. The study also examines efforts by civil society and the Nigerian government towards combating and eliminating the practice of FMC in Nigeria. Aside from the systematic literature review, a case study of ten NGOs were interviewed on the telephone. Findings indicate that girls being kept pure as virgins, protection of girls' reproductive potential, increase in fertility, aiding marriageability, traditional practice, and keeping with lineage practice are responsibile for the practice in Nigeria. Few theories were reviewed, and research questions were designed in line with the theories. The approaches include the Functionalist theory, cultural relativism, social theory and Feminism.

Recent statistics have shown that Violence Against Women (VAW) affects one in three women worldwide. Not only is the issue prevalent at a global scale, it is embedded in the societal fabric of South Africa. Women and girls disproportionately experience public and private environments as unsafe due to the fear or threat of violence against them. Thus, limiting their movement, use and occupation of space. In essence, such instances of violence infringe upon a women’s human rights. In 1996, two years after South Africa became a democracy, it was necessary to manifest physically through architecture the symbolic significance of South Africa’s Constitution. An opportunity for architectural intervention is identified at the Constitution Hill Precinct. The aim is to make more visible and practical advocacy of women’s rights through establishing an association of the Precinct as a safe space for women. The study, through mixed qualitative methods, explores the feminist notion of safe space to understand safety, as both a practical and social construct, is integral to reflect the lived experiences of women. Design principles to guide the architectural intervention are subsequently synthetized from primarily theoretical informants, followed by conceptual, contextual and programmatic informants. The result is the translation of safe space into an architecture of lived experience; where the threat of fear or violence does not intimidate nor limit the occupation and use of space by women; but fosters spaces of empowerment, healing and upliftment. By programming underutilized in-between spaces along the East-West thoroughfare of the Precinct, through a transformative approach towards heritage, the advocacy for women’s rights is made visible and attains an association as a place where women are received and celebrated. Focus is placed on the Western edge of the Precinct to explore social and public programmes in support of women and the community at large. The existing parking lot structures, identified as lost space, are adapted to reflect an architectural intent of safe space and become spaces of meaning and contribution towards the Precinct. Finally, technical resolution of the project stems from the conceptual intentions of the design intervention; expressing a transformative approach between old and new. / Mini Dissertation (MArch (Prof))--University of Pretoria, 2020. / Architecture / MArch (Prof) / Unrestricted

The work for female empowerment is prominent on the Unguja island of Zanzibar. Governmental support and local and international organizations are investing in women to achieve gender equality. The government of Tanzania has added changes to the law to protect women and prevent gender-based violence, as well as strategic measures to assist the stakeholders of the Zanzibarian society. Simultaneously, the reports of gender-based violence (GBV) are increasing on the islands according to the Zanzibar Female Lawyer Association. The study explores the measures taken by the government to eliminate violence against women with a focus on the role of the man in these structural social and legal changes. The study also shows the challenges that the added laws have faced in practice, and the balance between culture and legal system in a society, when a change is to take place.