Women Minister takes Semenya matter to the United Nations (UN)

The Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Noluthando Manyende-Sibiya has requested the United Nations' Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW) to investigate the manner in which Caster Semenya has been treated in line with UN protocols on gender equality.

DAW is responsible for implementation of various international agreements and declarations relating to the status of women which the Minister believes have been violated. It advocates for the improvement of the status of women of the world and the achievement of gender equality and human rights.

In a letter to DAW Director Carolyn Hannan, Minister Mayende-Sibiya argues that there have been a blatant disregard for Semenya's human dignity and the incident will limit the efforts to increase participation of women in sports.

Minister Mayende-Sibiya argues that the Semenya incident violates at least three international commitments governed by the UN on protection and promotion of rights of women.

The incident undermines article 13 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. This article requires that measures be put in place to eliminate discrimination and promote the rights of women to participate in sports.

Secondly her treatment violates the Beijing Platform for Action. The Platform for Action calls for gender-sensitive programmes for girls and women of all ages and support in all areas of athletics including coaching and administration at the national, regional and international levels.

Lastly, the incident contradicts the Brighton Declaration of 1994 which called for a sporting culture that values and enables the full involvement of women in every aspect of sport.

"The equal opportunity to be involved in sport for leisure or for competition is the right of all women and men, girls and boys. I would therefore like to request that the UN Division for Advancement of Women investigates this matter as it has severe consequences for women participation in sports globally.

"There should be some degree of transparency from the International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF) about the sequence of events that led to Miss Semenya's gender being subjected to such unjustified public scrutiny," Minister Mayende-Sibiya states in her letter.

She argues that in terms of South Africa law governing the population register, Semenya is a woman.

"The questioning of her gender is based on stereotypic view of the physical features and abilities attributable to women. Such stereotypes demonstrate the extent of patriarchy within the world's sporting community," said Minister Mayende-Sibiya.

Issued by: Ministry of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, September 14 2009

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