Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng has been given the honorary position of Special Rapporteur by The United Nation Human Rights Council.

Dr T, as she is popularly known, is a South African doctor, women’s rights and sexual and reproductive health activist, and the author of the bestseller Dr T: A Guide to Sexual Health and Pleasure.

Sisonke Msimang hailed the appointment on Twitter, calling it ‘excellent news’, and saying Dr T has ‘unapologetically fought for women’s rights to abortion, contraceptives and sexual pleasure’.

‘She takes no prisoners,’ Msimang said. ‘The world would be lucky to have her serve as Special Rapporteur.’

Special Rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council to examine and report back on a country situation or a specific human rights theme.

The announcement of Dr T’s appointment was made by Benjamin Mason Meier, Associate Professor of Global Health Policy at the University of North Carolina, on Twitter.

According to Meier, Mofokeng is expected to be appointed as Special Rapporteur on the right to health during the 44th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which began yesterday, 30 June.

Mofokeng is vice-chairperson of the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition and founder of Nalane Associates. She obtained her medical degree (MBChB) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and now runs a women’s health clinic, DISA, in Johannesburg. She is a thought leader and contributor to 5FM and Metro FM’s Sexual Health radio features, the ‘Let’s Talk About Sex’ columnist for the Sunday Times, and is internationally published in The Guardian, Teen Vogue and Project Syndicate. She works to leverage the synergy between communications and advocacy for reproductive justice.

Categories International Non-fiction South Africa

Tags Dr T Dr T: A Guide to Sexual Health and Pleasure News Pan Macmillan SA Tlaleng Mofokeng