Domestic workers get empowered
JOBURG - As part of the ongoing 16 Days of Activism campaign, the Sandringham Old Stars soccer team, together with Amnesty International South Africa, took to the soccer field to raise awareness about women and children abuse.
Campaign manager for the maternal health and sexual and reproductive rights at Amnesty International, Glenda Muzenda, said women must take action against violations on their bodies. “The soccer games are not just a way of keeping fit but a platform for women to share information and advice with each other,” she said.
The soccer team, which consists of domestic workers in the area, received a T-shirt donation from Amnesty. Jairos Mawira, who founded the club, was thankful for the donation, and the team used the opportunity to share knowledge about HIV/Aids and issues that are pertinent to women in general.
Muzenda said that domestic workers needed their health to be taken care of, too.
She added, “Government is responsible for upholding people’s rights – sexual and reproductive – and ensuring that people enjoy these rights freely, without fear of coercion or discrimination… [Women] have the right to make decisions about health and receive information about health services.” Muzenda said that women should have the choice whether or not they wanted to have children or get married; they also needed access to contraception and safe, legal abortion.
