The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) says it will engage with government, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, as well as the United Nations to ensure that what it calls ‘discriminatory’ regulations of the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) are not implemented.
The commission, along with the Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) have resolved to embark on a joint global and national advocacy campaign in support of Caster Semenya and all black female athletes. This comes after Semenya lost her appeal to Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court against the restriction of testosterone levels in female runners.
Caster Semenya says her battle with IAAF is a fight for Human Rights:
The commission’s Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng says the regulations are unconstitutional and racist.
“This sets a very dangerous precedent and it puts black women particularly at risk of institutionalised racism and sexism. The regulations of IAAF continue to be unconstitutional. They are unethical. They are racist. They are sexist. Jointly, the commission for Gender, as well as the HRC, will be speaking to the president. We will be speaking to the ministries of sport, arts and culture the ministry of women, youth and people with disabilities and the UN. So, this fight is more than just about Caster. It’s about the institutions that continue to punish blackness.”
SAHRC, CGE to embark on a fight against the IAAF discriminatory regulations:
