South Africa will tomorrow join the rest of the world in observing 16 Days of Activism Campaign on No Violence against Women and Children for 2011. This initiative is endorsed by the United Nations and it takes place from the 25th of November (which is International Day of No Violence against Women) to the 10th of December (which is observed as International Human Rights Day).
South Africa has run this campaign since 1999 and therefore this year marks the 12th anniversary of the Campaign in the country. While it started with a focus on gender based violence, the Campaign has evolved to include issues relating to violence against children. Since the establishment of the Ministry for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, the campaign is being broadened to also look at issues of violence against people with disabilities.
The theme for the 2011 Campaign is: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence”.
There are five sub-themes to support this theme and these are:
- Bringing together women, peace, and human rights movements to challenge militarism
- Proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence
- Sexual violence in and after conflict
- Political violence against women, including pre/during/post-election violence
- Sexual and gender based violence committed by state agents, particularly police and the armed forces.
Militarisation and violence by state agents remains a major challenge particularly in regions affected by conflict including in some parts of our continent. In South Africa, we are focusing on the sub-theme on the proliferation of small arms and their role in domestic violence. Domestic violence is a reality in every country of the world. The violence becomes even more dangerous when guns – legal or illegal - are present in the home, as they can be used to threaten, injure or kill women and children.
According to the International Action Network on Small Arms (ANSA), women are three times more likely to die violently if there is a gun in the house. Not only do small arms facilitate violence against women, they are also used in many contact crimes, robberies and other violent crimes that remain prevalent in our country.
We are encouraged by progress in the efforts of Government to combat crime as confirmed by the decrease in a number of serious crimes in our country over the past year. We are, however, concerned that the combined figures of all sexual offences, including rape and indecent assault, indicate an upward trend of 2,1% in 2010/11 compared to 2009/2010. Cases of murder of women increased by 5,6% and sexual offences against children increased by 2,6% during this period.
We are confident that the strengthening of law enforcement measures, particularly the re-establishment of Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences (FCS) units within the SAPS will assist in turning the tide against these crimes.
In addition, the Department for Women, Children and People with Disabilities is establishing the National Council against Gender Based Violence to coordinate a multi-sectoral response to this scourge, and drive the 365 National Action Plan to End Violence against Women and Children. This should streamline our national effort and enhance the impact of programmes to stop violence and abuse. Because of the priority that government places on addressing violence against women and children, the council will be chaired by the Deputy President.
The opening event of the 16 Days Campaign this year will take place tomorrow at Atteridgeville township, in Tshwane. The event will include the launch of the Green Door Campaign. In this campaign, private homes and community facilities are identified as sites where victims of violence can run to in times of need. The victims are referred to appropriate services such as police or social services within a few hours/overnight.
On November 26, we will have a sod turning ceremony for a memorial park in honour of Masego Kgomo. Masego is a 10 year-old girl from Soshanguve who was allegedly raped and murdered and her body parts removed for muti purposes. We will also meet will meet will traditional healers and other stakeholders to discuss measures that need to be taken to stop incidents of ritual or muti killing
On November 28, we will be at Pretoria High Court where Masego’s murderer is expected to be sentenced. Our Department has submitted a motivation to the court to impose the heaviest possible sentence in this case.
Department will focus on the other harmful cultural practice called ukuthwala (forced marriage of girls to older men) which has affected many children. The Campaign will also cover the challenge of attacks on lesbian women. We will seek to raise community awareness about the need to address this practice termed “corrective rape”, which is a violation of Constitutional right to sexual orientation.
Other key days commemorated during this 16-Day period include World Aids Day on 1st December in Nelson Mandela Bay in the Eastern Cape and the International Day for Persons with Disabilities on 3 December which will take place in Mangaung, in Free State. The closing event for the 16 Days Campaign will be held in Ermelo, Mpumalanga on December 10 and will be addressed by Deputy President.
Many other activities have been organized by government department, provincial and local government as well as civil society to highlight this campaign. We will also be working with various media organizations to ensure that we raise the awareness amongst communities about the need to act against abuse of women and children.
We certainly appreciate the support of all these sectors.
Thank you for your attention.
Enquiries contact:
Sibani Mngadi (Spokesperson for the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities)
Cell: 082 772 0161
