VIRGIN MYTH

Virgin myth in South Africa

Virgin myth in South Africa

Introduction

The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (often referred to as the International Criminal Court Statute or the Rome Statute) is the treaty that established the International Criminal Court (ICC). It was adopted at a diplomatic conference in Rome on 17 July 1998 and it entered into force on 1 July 2002. As of October 2009, 110 states are party to the statute, and a further 38 states have signed but not ratified the treaty. Among other things, the statute establishes the court's functions, jurisdiction and structure.

The ICC was created in order to deal with what the Rome Statute (the international treaty establishing the ICC) refers to as the “most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole”: the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. The Rome Statute makes it clear that the purpose of the ICC is in situations (such as that obtaining in the Congo) where normal government and the rule of law has broken down leading to the urgent need for an impartial international court.

“Crimes against humanity” only arise “when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack2”. There is no foundation for such a claim against the Pope and it is risible.

In South Africa there is a myth that says that having sex with a virgin will cure you from HIV and many other sexually transmitted diseases. ("Women's health at risk in Africa") Adult men look for younger and younger girls to have sex with in order to cure themselves of AIDS. This sexual abuse represents a huge factor of the spread of HIV. Women that have serious relationships expose themselves to physical abuse if they request their partner or husband to wear a condom because they will feel offended as this implies that they are cheating.

The Virgin Cure is the mistaken belief that if a man has intercourse with a virgin female, he can be cured of AIDS, syphilis, gonorrhea, or other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

According to author Hanne Blank, the idea may have evolved from Christian legends of virgin martyrs whose purity served as a form of protection in battling demons. Researcher Mike Earl-Taylor also indicates the myth gained prominence 19th century Victorian England. Today, it is believed that the Virgin Cure may explain the staggering rise in child/infant rapes in South Africa, which is facing an HIV/AIDS epidemic.

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Students are expected to keep up with assigned course readings and Web resources. In conjunction with course reading, discussion topics will be posted on the Blackboard discussion board. Topics will include issues associated with reading and teaching young adult literature. Students are expected to contribute their thoughts on each topic by the posted due ...