Members of Justice and Crime Prevention Security Cluster and Wolmaranstad Mayor Cllr Victoria Kgabi will on the 7 December 2012 Commemorate 16 days of Activism against Women and Children at Chris Hani Community Hall in Wolmaranstad Ward 2 starting at 10h00.
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign, which takes place annually from the 25th November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to the 10th December (International Human Rights Day). Since 1999 the South African Government has marked this day, and has ensured that the campaign is extended to include issues relating to violence against children.
The 16 Days of Activism campaign focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children including the society as well. Theme for this year “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Proliferation of small arms and their role in Domestic Violence”.
“Domestic Violence is rife in Wolmaranstad and farming areas, this is caused by the fact that unemployment rate is high, alcohol consumption is high, and some people resort to produce home brewed beer and end up engaging in fights.
Early in the year 2008 year we officially launched Provincial Implementation Plan for the victims of crime. The Service Charter for Victims of Crime in South Africa (Victims Charter) is an important instrument for promoting justice for all, in pursuit of cultivating a human rights culture. There is reluctance on the part of victims of domestic violence especially men to come forward and seek legal redress and social support.
This could be due to insufficient knowledge of their rights and the social stigma around domestic violence. We have public education unit to continue educating our public about their rights since victims of crime are poorly informed about their empowerment. Not knowing about your rights is tantamount to not having them at all” Explains Adv Bonolo Madiba.
“As Department of Justice and Constitutional Development we plead with domestic violence victims to stop withdrawing cases. We can’t have a situation were courts are being used as play grounds. Withdrawal of domestic violence cases is high. In some families particularly in the farming areas the wife and husband sometimes engage in fights, a wife would lodge a case with South African Police Service on Friday after a quareel and would come on Monday to withdraw the said case after the husband who is a breadwinner pas pleaded guilty with her.
This conduct clusters our system and we want to issue a strong warning that we will look carefully into the merits of every case reported and unfortunately in some instances court will have to continue with most cases with or without the concern of the plaintiff with the hope of curbing the scourge of Domestic Violence. This is simply protecting the victim because some victims end up being killed after withdrawing these cases”, Concluded Acting Regional Head Mr Joseph Makutle.
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