of Peace from KwaZulu-Natal MEC for education Ina Cronje
9 March 2006
The Torch of Peace, which is a symbol of the national campaign to combat
violence against women and children, will arrive in the Western Cape tomorrow
(Friday, 10 March 2006).
KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Ms Ina Cronjé will hand the Torch of Peace to
her Western Cape counterpart Cameron Dugmore during a special ceremony at the
Breërivier High School in Worcester, at 12h00. MEC Dugmore is expected to hand
over the Torch of Peace to the Eastern Cape on Wednesday, 15 March 2006.
Earlier, the Cabinet has called on South Africans to campaign against
violence against women and children during the whole of 2006, because of high
levels of violence of this kind in the country. Reports by the Medical Research
Council, the Human Rights Watch and in the media have highlighted the
seriousness of the problem.
The torch was lit during the launch of the 16 Days of Activism against
violence on women and children in November last year. Cabinet earlier took a
decision to extend the campaign from 16 to 365 days.
In response to the call by Cabinet, the Department of Education has then
developed a programme in support of our Safe Schools Campaign. The Torch of
Peace was first received by the Department of Transport as part of the Arrive
Alive campaign.
The Torch of Peace forms a link between the 16 Days of Activism Campaign and
other major national campaigns that support the thematic programmes that
underpin government's national outreach activities.
The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and to ensure effective
intervention strategies to prevent learners from being scarred by traumatic
abuse through gender violence and violence against children.
The main focus of the campaign is awareness, education and prevention. The
DoE is encouraging schools to facilitate programmes to help children and youth
to develop refusal skills and reduce behaviour that may put them at risk.
The campaign is addressing societal attitudes that encourage gender-based
violence and is encouraging young people to report any form of violence against
them.
The campaign is giving each province an opportunity of hosting the Torch for
a week, preferably in communities that are grappling with the issues of
violence and crime in their areas.
Education Management and Development Centres (EMDCs) in the districts will
take the campaign further by organising programmes to raise awareness about the
scourge of violence affecting school communities in their areas.
Here in the Western Cape tomorrow the Torch will remain for a day in each of
the four metropolitan education districts, as well as in the Breede
River/Overberg district.
Enquiries:
Gert Witbooi
Cell: 082 550 3938
E-mail: gwitbooi@pgwc.gov.za.
Issued by: Department of Education, Western Cape Provincial Government
9 March 2006
