FS Centre for Human Rights Law

Permanent URI for this community

http://hdl.handle.net/11660/11769

Browse

Browsing FS Centre for Human Rights Law by Subject "Shelters -- South Africa -- Pretoria"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Services provision is also the rights for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, intersex, and queer people
    (University of the Free State, 2022) Shabangu, Athalia Phindile; Kamga, Gerard E. K.
    There is a need for shelters for LGBTIQ+ people whose rights are violated either at home or those who are victims of crime in general. There are LGBTIQ+ people in all nine provinces of South Africa, but only one dedicated shelter provides services for them. The researcher assumes that there is discrimination against LGBTIQ+ people in terms of shelter services provision. Some of the LGBTIQ+ people get discriminated against and stigmatized because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. As such, they do not fully enjoy their universal human rights. Other LGBTIQ+ people are victimized in their homes, schools, and communities, which leads to them being vulnerable and needing safe spaces such as shelters for accommodation. According to the Department of Social Development,1 a shelter is a residential facility providing short-term intervention in a crisis situation. Shelters are expected to provide critical services to those undergoing high levels of trauma, including a safe place to stay and psycho-social support.2 The availability of shelter services is the human right of any LGBTIQ+ person. Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person globally, from birth until death. According to PEPUDA,3 failure to reasonably accommodate LGBTIQ+ people, or any other vulnerable groups, amount to unfair discrimination and inequality on, amongst others, the ground of gender. Globally, regional and national instruments throughout the world deal with discrimination, which is a human rights issue. These instruments include the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Bill of Rights contained in the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa. The Bill of Rights makes provision for the protection of the rights of every South African. This research intended to investigate shelters in Pretoria and the surrounding area that accommodates LGBTIQ+ people.