M&G Top 100 Women changing SA

Kayan Leung is a Legal Advocacy and Litigation Manager in the Policy, Development and Advocacy unit at Sonke Gender Justice, a NGO promoting gender equality in JHB.

Congratulations on being named amongst Mail & Guardian's (M&G) Top 100 Women changing SA for 2019!

“Women are incredible beings; we have the ability to create life as well as being fighters. Look at women in history; it’s quite apparent that we are fighters, even though systems have tried to oppress us.” ~ Kayan Leung

Read the admitted attorney's inspiring story in her M&G profile here.

Photo credit: Courtesy of ‘Mail & Guardian – On The Road section’ (Friday, 30th August 2019) newspaper p. 28/44.

Promoting gender equality

"The president has to get a fully functional National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and it cannot be platitudes, because this was promised at the summit last year and to date, we haven't seen anything."

Click here to listen to Kayan Leung discuss why President Cyril Ramaphosa's promises to effectively deal with femicide and sex crimes mean nothing without action, during her CapeTalk radio interview with John Maytham on Thursday 5th September 2019.

"It would seem that the rulings are almost targeted at specific individuals of geographic location which deals with the intersectionality of possibly discrimination against athletes from the global south."

Watch the 2017 Mandela Washington Fellow discuss the legal obligations of the IAAF in Caster Semenya's testosterone case during SABC3's 'Special Assignment' on Sunday 24th March 2019 here.

Tweet credit: Courtesy of 'SABC3 / Special Assignment'.

"International law is very clear that you cannot discriminate against based on your gender and sex. By requiring a woman to undergo altering her body which is in a natural state is against the right to bodily and physical integrity, the right to equality and discrimination..."

Watch the human rights lawyer explain why Sonke Gender Justice supports Caster Semenya's battle against the IAAF with eNCA on Saturday 22th February 2019.

Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / eNCA'.

Well done to Kayan Leung, former Detention Monitoring Coordinator at Lawyers for Human Rights for been one of four panelists, who discussed how they overcame sexism and racism in their various fields to obtain their positions and to champion the cause for other women, at the ‘Women Changing India’ photograph exhibition, held at Gallery 011 in Sandton on Tuesday 31st October 2017.

Article credit: Courtesy of 'Sandton Chronicle' (Friday, 10th November 2017) newspaper. Click here to read the full digital news article.

Fighting for dignity

"The current political climate often calls for populist political rhetoric, which scapegoats various categories of certain groups. We need to guard against attaching generalised stereotypes, which can fuel hatred and intolerance and go against what our society and country is trying to build and work towards." ~ Kayan Leung

Read here why an outburst of xenophobic and racist social media posts directed against the South African Chinese community prompted it to lay charges in the Equality Court in a 'New Frame' news article on Tuesday 26th March 2019.

Honoured by the community

Erwin Pon [Chairperson of 'The Chinese Association Gauteng' (TCA)] recognised Kayan Leung as one of four women honoured by our community, during the 'TCA 115th & TCA Women's Federation 12th Anniversary' celebrations on Sunday 5th August 2018 at the Italian Club in Bedfordview JHB.

Kayan and Erwin are pictured alongside Angela Yeung (Trek4Mandela Kilimanjaro summiteer and Founder of Impilo Collection), Ming-Cheau Lin (Copywriter, food writer and author) and Taryn Lock (Literacy activist and Founder of 'Proudly Chinese SA').

Photo credit: Courtesy of 'Facebook / TCA'.

Defending rights of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers

Watch Kayan Leung, former Detention Monitoring Coordinator at Lawyers for Human Rights, answer whether SA is welcoming or hostile towards refugees during an interview by SABC News Channel’s (DStv 404) Bongani Bingwa on Wednesday 20th June 2018 (internationally observed as ‘World Refugee Day’.

Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / SABC digital news'.

Watch the 2016 M&G Top 200 Young South African speak at the National Investigative Hearing on Migration, Xenophobia and Social Cohesion in 2018.

Video credit: Courtesy of 'YouTube / SAHRC South African Human Rights Commission'.

"The right to life is a fundamental right afforded to all human beings regardless of their immigration statuses or nationality."

Click here to listen to the public interest attorney explain why her clients may not be refused emergency medical treatment, in her Talk Radio 702 interview with Stephen Grootes on Monday 5th June 2017.

French Embassy in SA Woman of the Month - August 2017

Congratulations to Kayan Leung, former Detention Monitoring Coordinator at Lawyers for Human Rights, named 'Woman of the Month' by the French Embassy in SA for August 2017 and participant in France's International Leader Programme!

Watch the humanitarian introduce herself and explain why she was invited by the French Ministry to attend their study trip in France.

"Don't give up, just forge ahead, produce good results and do the work."

Watch the Miss Earth SA 2004 share the advice she would give to young women wanting to become attorneys and the reasons she chose this career.

Video credits: Courtesy of 'YouTube / French Embassy in SA'.

Mandela Washington Fellow 2017

“I think SA has so much knowledge to impart, based on our historical past and where we have come and are still going as a nation. I think it’s important to let young people know that they are the future that shapes the world and should not be despondent about their environment. There are so much untapped, undeveloped skills and talent out there and the world needs you."

Very proud of legal activist Kayan Leung, selected as one of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Young African Leaders for 2017 in the USA! Good luck!

Article credit: Courtesy of 'Southern Courier' (Tuesday 6th June 2017) newspaper p. 3. Click here to read the full online article.

"It’s important to discover your roots and identity in a multi-cultural country and society. There is a lot to learn about our historical contributions in SA and one should not be ashamed of that. Find your voice and take a seat at the table."

Learn more about Kayan Leung and read why she is proudly both South African and Chinese here. Follow her via social media: