South Africa also poses dangers for women

We've been talking a lot about the rape epidemic in the Congo, but rape is a serious problem in much of the world. In South Africa, women still face enormous discrimination and violence. In a piece on Huffington Post, Alex Matthews says that despite being a democracy that "ensures" equality for women, most girls and women face a number of horrors.

In his piece, Matthews lays out the abuses women face from strip searches to rape to virginity tests. He also gives his explanation for why such widespread discrimination and abuse exists still.

I think that one of the most serious and pressing concerns of our world today is violence against women and the continuing sexism. If the world worked to eradicate violence against women and maternal mortality, relief efforts will be more effective and lives of millions will be safer and happier. If governments and people want to make our world a better place, they have to start with women.
Photo courtesy of www.flickr/strandloper