PRESS RELEASE: LHR applauds the Commission for Gender Equality recommendations on the Maidens “Virgins” Bursary Scheme

 
Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR) commends the Commission for Gender Equality’s (CGE) for the release of the investigative report on the uThukela Municipality’s Maidens Bursary scheme, in which it  recommends the removal of the scheme from the municipality’s bursary categories. 
 
The controversial scheme, which provides study bursaries to girls on the basis of their “virginity”. The municipality spokesperson, Jabulani Mkhonza, said the bursaries were intended to encourage young girls to “stay pure” and focus on their education. As of 11 January, 16 girls had been awarded these bursaries because they were still “virgins”, as allegedly confirmed through traditional virginity testing.  
 
LHR expressed deep concern about the scheme, as a government initiative based on an arbitrary, dubious physical characteristic that has no basis in medical science, and is often the subject of social stigma for women and girls. We further argued that the scheme entrenches gender inequality by holding girls to a different sexual responsibility and standard than boys, and rewarding conformation with a harmful stereotype entirely unrelated to academic potential and the right to education, under the guise of public health considerations.  In addition to discriminating against girls, we strongly believe that the scheme also fails to treat girls of the same age equally, providing opportunities only for those of a certain conscience, belief or sexual orientation.
 
Sanja Bornman, attorney in the LHR Gender Equality Programme, said, “The CGE’s investigation has found that the issuance of a bursary contingent on a female student’s virginity is fundamentally discriminatory. We applaud and strongly support this finding. We likewise support the recommendations contained in the report, including the removal of the Maidens Bursary scheme, training on gender equality for all uThukela municipal counsellors, and gender awareness outreach programmes in the district.”
 
The CGE also found that any funding by an organ of state based on a woman’s sexuality perpetuates patriarchy and inequality in South Africa, and recognizes that the prevention of teenage pregnancy and HIV infection cannot be girls’ responsibility alone. 
 
For More Information contact Sanja Bornman on 021 424 8561 or 083 522 2933 or Carol Mohlala on 061 906 0353