Photo of the week: fighting stigma

Violence against women is an unacceptable crime that is still perpetuated world wide. This is especially the case for women such as Pumeza and Tshidi (pictured) in South Africa, who have been victims of hate crime due to their sexuality.

“It is not easy being a woman in this country” says Pumeza (left) Photographer: Jodie Bieber

Tshidi was first beaten up in 2002 when a man hit her with a spade and a bottle in order to teach her “to be a real woman”. She was beaten again three months later and, this time, sexually assaulted and left partially blinded in one eye. In 2008 the couple were attacked at gunpoint in their own home and were lucky not to be injured when the attacker shot at them.

Combating homophobia through awareness campaigns is vital for women like Tshidi and Pumeza who are targeted for their sexual preference. “When you are a lesbian, even women say bad things. Sometimes people say our grandmothers gave us something so we are witches”.

The couple initially met at the  Khayelitsha branch of TAC (Treatment Action Campaign), an ActionAid affiliate which campaigns for better education about HIV/Aids and condemns homophobia. They have been active with TAC ever since.