Background
The ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence’ is an international campaign originating from the first Women's Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Center for Women's Global Leadership in 1991. Participants chose the dates, 25 November, ‘International Day against Violence against Women’ and 10 December, ‘International Human Rights Day’, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasise that such violence is a violation of human rights. Since 1999 the South African Government has run a parallel campaign that includes issues relating to violence against children and in SA the campaign is officially called ‘16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children’.
Nokuzola Mfiki seminar and its relevance to 16 Days of Activism
Nokuzola Mfiki is a 37 year old woman from Port St Johns who fell victim to stigmatisation related to HIV and AIDS. As a direct result she killed herself and her 4 young children aged between 8 and 7 months. Ever since the incidents many attempts have been made by the provincial government to educate communities about the harmful effects of stigmatisation and discrimination. In addition, focus was placed on how lack of information can lead to catastrophes such as the Mfiki case.
On 19August 2010 the Provincial AIDS Council launched memorial lectures in honour of Mfiki as a means to raise awareness about stigma and discrimination. The lectures and seminars will be part of the broad plan by the province to educate communities during the 16 days of activism against violence on women and children
Overall goals for the lectures:
- To raise awareness about the ills of stigma and discrimination that usually lead to women and children being victims of abuse both by men and other women
- To educate the communities about some legal avenues that can be explored to deal with discrimination and stigmatisation
- To create a platform for communities to engage in a dialogue so that they voice their opinions about would be solutions to the problem .
Modus operandi
25November - a Public memorial seminar, where four speakers share the platform on the topics that will cover:
- Criminal justice system and violence against women
- Women as survivors of discriminatory acts
- How children are affected by Stigma in the era of HIV and AIDS.
The experiences of the LGBT sector in the context of discrimination and stigmatisation
This will be a joint venture between Eastern Cape AIDS Council and Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and it will involve participation by other stakeholders as well.
The 2nd week will be characterised by an aggressive media campaign that will include radio talks by various stakeholders and also information supplied through print media. Information brochures will be distributed to all public places whenever there is a platform, to raise awareness.
Roadshow and Youth Dialogues
On 8 December 2010 the aforementioned institutions join by other stakeholders will be embarking on vigorous programme which will include youth dialogues on and roadshow campaign and Youth dialogues on HIV and AIDS. The purpose of the roadshow campaign is to raise awareness about Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence. The aforementioned campaign came as a result of the declaration that was signed by different stakeholders during the Kopanong Conference and red card campaign in Mpumalanga.The road show campaign will further strengthen Sixteen Days of Activism of eradicating Gender Based Violence. The chosen date for the envisaged road show is the 8 December 2010 with the targeted route being the following (Buffalo city):
Commencement at the High way taxi rank in Mdantsane, Ziphunzana, down to Boxer Taxi rank moving along the beach front.
- The route will allow adequate access to the general public in order to disseminate information regarding Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence.
The success and efforts to reduce the social ills of Human Trafficking and Gender Based Violence are more likely to succeed when stakeholders from different sectors are involved and collaborate together.
Throughout the latter part of November until 8 December there will be Youth dialogues that will include the topics of violence against Women and Children and also the social Practice of Ukuthwala in the eastern part of the province especially in the jurisdictional areas of Lusikisiki and Ntabankulu.
Speakers for the Memorial Lecture.
- DrLesley Anne Voster, Masimanyane Women’s Support Centre
- Advocate M Jokani, National Prosecuting Authority
- Commissioner Portia Loyilane, Commission for Gender Equality
- Ms Zama Mzimela: LGBT Sector and
- Ms Khahla Ntsangase (Academic Social Work and Community Development Department UFH)
Venue: Thuthuka Lecture Hall, Nkuhlu building, University of Fort Hare(UFH), East London
Time: 9h00
We hope trust through these efforts by the aforementioned organisations and partners will be reaching out to most people of our provinces and involvement of media to towards these programmes is crucial.
Enquiries:
Bulelwa Mhlontlo
Tel: 043 701 3400
E-mail: Bulelwa@ecac.org.za
