Lesbians in South Africa are the targets of vicious hate crimes that often grab headlines but rarely result in justice for either the victim or her tormentors.
Although apartheid has ended, its legacy lives on. Many South Africans still make their home in townships, segregated areas where they relocated after being forcibly removed from "white only" land.
Women in rural South Africa are often ruled by two sets of law—traditional and constitutional. Their rights are protected under one, denied under the other. Many search for the in-between.
Ulundi is a village like hundreds of others in South Africa but some of the women are different. They are members of the Rural Women's Movement and they are willing to stand up for their rights.
While South Africa celebrated women during official "Women's Month," organizations that provide counseling, support and shelter for female victims of rape and domestic violence struggled to stay open.
South African sex workers say it isn’t the clients they service they are most afraid of – it’s the police. Abuse is rampant and includes assault, exploitation, and bribery.
Faith leaders joined with members of South Africa's parliament in a service mourning the 34 protesters killed in a clash with police at Lonmin's platinum mine near Johannesburg.
Melissa Turley is a student at George Washington University where she was features editor of The GW Hatchet, the student-run campus newspaper. Also an intern at the Department of State,...