for the Public Service and Administration G Fraser-Moleketi
5 December 2007
As the Minister for the Public Service and Administration I would like to
express appreciation to the one thousand plus public servants both women and
men who marched among thousands of people today to the Union Buildings to
participate in the Gender Justice Partnership Rally, organised by GEMSA (Gender
and Media Southern Africa) in collaboration with government and other
organisations.
The participation of Public Servants in the rally, which took place as part
of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Child Abuse,
reflects the commitment of our public servants to gender equity in the
institutions of government and society, as well as to eradicating gender based
violence in our society.
This event was characterised by the participation of a range of sectors and
structures of society which was evidenced in the range of banners, t-shirts,
posters and slogans. As we take this campaign forward I call public servants to
take the lead to:
* promote gender equity throughout our institutions and society
* create awareness about gender based violence and child directed abuse at
community level
* bring the 16 Days of Activism campaign closer to the people, so that all
members of our communities are educated about the scourge of violence against
women and children, its link with substance abuse and the impact gender-based
violence has on the infection rate of HIV and AIDS
* involve men and the boy child as partners in the campaign for no violence
against women and children
* challenge the perpetrators of these crimes to change their behaviour and to
educate men that they too are vulnerable to violence and abuse.
* inform the women, children and men of information and services available to
them on gender-based violence
* encourage society to speak out and not to remain silent about gender- based
violence
* raise funds for shelters and places of safety for victims of abuse
* inform communities about the "Victims Charter" and the implementation
plan
* highlight the rights of the victims of violence as contained in the
charter
For further information:
Lewis Rabkin
Cell: 082 497 3220
Issued by: the Minister for the Public Service and Administration
5 December 2007
