South African Human Rights Commission condemns murder and sexual mutilation of lesbian
South Africa’s Human Rights Commission has condemned the recent murder and sexual mutilation of a young lesbian.
The 26-year-old was sexually assaulted with a toilet brush and died from internal injuries.
It appears she was targeted because of her sexuality.
Police have yet to make any arrests.
Isaac Mangena, of the South African Human Rights Commission, said: “While the right to equality inscribed in the Constitution protects people from being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, it is absolutely imperative that this right is given by all members of society.”
The director of LGBT group OUT, Dawie Nel, said corrective rape remained a scar on South Africa’s conscience.
“I think it’s a simple message that you cannot change someone’s homosexuality, either by therapy or raping them.”
In South Africa, at least seven people, five of them lesbians, were murdered between June and November 2012 in what appears to have been targeted violence related to their sexual orientation or gender identity.
