The Commission on Gender Equality has applied to add its voice to the appeal against the withdrawal of the Rape Crisis advert featuring Charlize Theron. The advert was withdrawn after an official complaint claimed that the ad implied that all men in South Africa were complacent about rape.
In a letter to the ASA on October the 6th, the Head of CGE's Legal Department Liesl Gerntholtz stressed the Commission's concern about the decision of the Advertising Standards Committee to ban one of the Charlize Theron anti-rape advertisements: "In line with it's constitutional mandate, the Commission on Gender Equality has decided to intervene, in the interests of gender equality, in any proceedings related to this advertisement, including, but not limited to the appeal process" said Gerntholtz.
The CEO of the Commission, Colleen Lowe Morna said that instead of wishing the advert off the screen, men of South Africa should publicity denounce violence against women: "I challenge all real South African men to add their voices, their faces, their soul s, their resources to fighting the most dehumanising crime of our time. If you are not part of the problem, stand up and be part of the solution" said Lowe-Morna.
The Commission has requested that the Advertising Standards Committee provide the Commission with reasons, in writing, for its decision to ban the advertisement, as well as the minutes of the hearing. If the CGE is given standing at the appeal it will supp ort the concerns already raised by Rape Crisis about the banning.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
LIESL GERNTHOLTZ ON (011) 403 7182 or 083 600 3592
KUBESHNI GOVENDER ON 083 273 8424
ISSUED BY THE COMMISSION ON GENDER EQUALITY
14 October 1999