PRESS RELEASE
Women's Declaration - 11 August 2001
On behalf of the women from Christians for Truth and a number of other Pietermaritzburg
based organisations and churches we would like to express the following concerns to the
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Health:
1. PROSTITUTION - Most Pietermaritzburg citizens are not in favour of legal places of
prostitution (or any condoning of the sex trade in women's bodies). Our march has gone
past the Comfort 2000 Escort Agency to symbolise our complete rejection of this awful
business in our city. We remind the Department of Health and the other authorities in our
city, that prostitution is still completely illegal in our country, despite the ruling
last week in the Pretoria High Court. The escort agencies in our city are operating
illegally because they are selling sex.
2. PORNOGRAPHY - Pornography is simply the objectification of women and is therefore a
form of women abuse. Our women's march stopped outside Score in Longmarket street to
emphasise the fact that we reject this dirt in our city. Rape and child abuse cases have
increased dramatically since permission was granted to these sex shops to sell their
wares. It has been proved time and time again that "pornography is the theory - rape
is the practise."
3. ABORTION - We are encouraged by the fact that two abortion clinics have closed in
Pietermaritzburg. Our march purposely stopped outside the Maritz Women's Clinic in order
to highlight the terrible evil of killing unborn babies. Abortion, whether it is declared
legal or not by the state, is always murder. It concerns us as women that the Health
Department of KwaZulu-Natal is involved in helping girls and women to abort their babies.
This sends the message that the Health Department is not only there for the good of its
citizens but also discriminatory towards unwanted unborn babies and assists in carrying
out their elimination.
The concerns expressed above are not just those of us who participated in today's
march. All women and men of good will are against the evils of prostitution, pornography
and abortion. The Health Department should reflect the opinions of the citizens of our
city and must seriously consider taking strong steps against evils which infringe on the
rights of others and cause devastation to our people.
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Myrna King - On behalf of the CFT women's march
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