Tlaleng Mofokeng for PS Say More

The PS Say More Newsletter | [View this message in a web browser]( [PS Say More]( Welcome to Say More, a weekly newsletter offering readers exclusive insights into the ideas, interests, and personalities of some of the world’s leading thinkers. In each issue, a Project Syndicate contributor is invited to expand on topics covered in their commentaries, address new issues, and share recommendations about everything from books and recordings to hobbies and social media. This week, PS talks with Tlaleng Mofokeng, a member of the Commission for Gender Equality in South Africa and an expert in sexual and reproductive health and rights. To read the full interview – in which Mofokeng underscores the need to decolonize global health funding, identifies her main goal as UN Special Rapporteur for Health, and shares the firsthand experiences that motivate her work – [click here](. Tlaleng Mofokeng Says More… Project Syndicate[Tlaleng Mofokeng]( Modern development strategies, you [wrote]( in February, “fail to recognize the need for concerted action to protect women from violence and uphold the rights of victims.” During COVID-19 lockdowns, violence against women has [surged](. How might strategies to combat COVID-19 spur broader improvement in protecting women from violence? Tlaleng Mofokeng: All relevant investments included in those strategies – from health care to social safety nets – must explicitly acknowledge and address gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). Crucially, they must protect all women, regardless of age, physical location, disability, sexual orientation, sexual and gender identity, gender expression, nationality, or any other factor. Violence against children is inextricable from this issue. In other words, COVID-19 strategies must be explicitly and purposefully intersectional, incorporating a multi-disciplinary approach to violence prevention, as well as survivor support, justice, and healing. Finally, policymakers must ensure that adequate resources are immediately allocated to this cause. PS: In 2018, you [highlighted]( the devastating impact of the United States’ “global gag rule,” which is reinstated every time a Republican is in the White House and blocks US foreign aid to organizations that offer abortion services, counseling, referrals, or advocacy. How can NGOs and other organizations working to improve access to sexual and reproductive health in developing countries reduce their dependence on US aid? TM: Global health policy and aid must be devoid of conditions that are unethical and antithetical to human rights. The global gag rule fails on these fronts. But the global gag rule is just one part of a larger problem... [Continue reading]( [Violence Against Women Is Blocking Development]( [Violence Against Women Is Blocking Development]( By Tlaleng Mofokeng Modern development strategies often recognize the pivotal importance of enabling women to fulfill their potential and contribute effectively to their economies. Yet they fail to recognize the need for concerted action to protect women from violence, and uphold the rights of victims. They are thus grossly inadequate. By the Way... PS: As a member of the Commission for Gender Equality in South Africa, where, in your view, has the country made the most progress in recent years, and what areas most urgently need attention or resources? TM: South Africa has an active and vibrant civil society that continues to demand accountability from industry and government. The National Strategic Plan for GBVF, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa this year, is a testament to this: it was made possible by direct action from women. But there is still plenty of work to do – including on this very initiative. To ensure that the National Strategic Plan for GBVF finds expression at all levels of South African society, the government must outline a long-term plan for allocating resources and implement clear accountability mechanisms. PS: You have often used your firsthand experiences as a doctor to help readers understand the real-world human impact of policy failures. Which stories or experiences have been particularly important in motivating or shaping your work? TM: I have known many women who... [Continue reading]( [Say More: Mark Leonard]( Previously in Say More [Mark Leonard]( – Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations – redefines sovereignty for the twenty-first century, predicts the future of transatlantic relations, and says why the US is so poorly equipped to pursue structural reform. [Read more](. [Check out the full Say More archive]( [PS. Find Us on Facebook. @ProjectSyndicate]( [PS. 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