Programme director
Ladies and gentlemen
December 10 is observed globally as an International Human Rights Day. This is the day which we also use to mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children. This international campaign started on 25 November which is an International Day of No Violence against Women. It is run between these days to mobilise a global focus on the challenges of gender based violence and abuse that is affecting women around the world.
The recent developments with regard to Anni Dewani murder case in Cape Town demonstrate that the challenge of gender based violence knows no boundaries in terms of geographic location and social background. We congratulate the South African Police and the National Prosecuting Authority for the progress made thus far in seeking to resolve this murder case which has a negative effect on the image of our country internationally.
We hope that all involved in this murder will face the full might of the law. This case should be used to demonstrate commitment of our country to deal effectively crime and perpetrators of gender based violence. As women continue to suffer violence and abuse from their partners, we need to intensify the struggle for women emancipation and respect for human rights of women globally.
Children have also not been spared from horrible acts of violence. In Pretoria, we had eight members of the same family arrested for abusing children, making them to have sex and producing child pornography from that. It is terrible and we again express appreciation to the police and all involved in the process leading up to these arrests as well.
Government, through its law enforcement agencies is committed to act swiftly against act of abuse. As a community, we have an obligation to work with our law enforcement agencies by reporting these cases and providing all the information that can assist in the arrest and conviction of these abusers. The serial killer of 13 women in Umzinto sugarcane fields was arrested and is currently on trial because of the information from the community. The recent arrest in KwaMashu of a man who allegedly raped 12 women in Gauteng became possible because of the assistance from the community.
Let us not look away, let us act against abuse of women and children.
Programme director, we also have to raise awareness about the services that are available to victims of abuse. Social workers are there to assist children who are abused. Victims of sexual violence can access counseling and health services that can prevent unwanted pregnancies and HIV infection. In cases of domestic violence, women can request restraining orders to prevent abuse. The ministry will be working with partners in government and civil society to make sure that there is greater awareness of these services even in most remote rural areas of our country.
This morning, we visited survivors of the horrible attack of families at Ntshongweni. We handed over houses to Magcaba family in Ntshongweni and Nxusi family at Saint Wendelin. These houses are part of the 16 Houses for 16 Days project. This is a project under the 16 Days of Activism Campaign which aims to address one of the dimensions contributing to the perpetuation of violence against women and children and that is lack of housing or shelter.
These families were also provided with food parcels and instruments to assist them to initiate their own food gardens. The families are also being registered in the indigent programme enabling them to access free basic services like water and electricity. These are some of the activities which demonstrate that this government is committed to provide support to survivors of violence and abuse.
On the other hand programme director, there will be no leniency towards abusers. We have commitment from the Criminal Justice Cluster – which includes Police, Justice and Correctional Services - that perpetrators of violence against women and children shall face the full might of the law.
The police, prosecutors and the courts are empowered under the Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Offences Act and Children’s Act, to arrest, prosecute and convict perpetrators of violence against women and children.
Any official who fail to act or subject victims of gender-based violence to further humiliation deserve to be treated with disdain. Such officials further perpetrate the victimisation of survivors of violence who are extremely vulnerable. We will be failing in our endeavour to protect the rights of vulnerable groups if we do not act in the manner that condemns such inappropriate treatment and handling of cases of abuse of women and children.
Programme director, while we are having this closing ceremony for the 16 Days of Activism, I must emphasise that this campaign does not end here. There is a 365 Days Plan of Action that we have to strengthen and implement together with all partners throughout 2011 and beyond.
This Action Plan is a multi-sector framework to end violence against women and children. The plan recognises that no single sector, government ministry or civil society organisation is by itself responsible or has the singular ability to address this challenge. It emphasises that all government departments and civil society organisations use the Action Plan as the basis to develop their own operational plans to ensure unity of purpose and cohesion of efforts to achieve maximum impact in eradicating the scourge of abuse of women and children.
The Ministry for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities is scaling up its capacity and will be playing the coordinating role in advancing this plan. The ministry’s organisational structure was approved by Cabinet this week. This approval enables us to recruit the necessary expertise needed to effectively implement this and other programmes aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of women, children and people with disabilities.
As we enter the festive season, we have to ensure that women and children do not become victims of crime and domestic violence caused particular by use of drugs and alcohol. Cases of domestic violence and other crimes against women and children are a priority in the festive season security plan (Operation Duty Calls).
As we begin 2011, we will be focusing on the vulnerable children including children with disabilities and their right of access to education. The return to school campaign should ensure that all of these children attend school to better their future while reducing their vulnerability to abuse.
Programme director, I would like to conclude by thanking all the organisations that have participated in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for 2010. I cannot be able to list all of them but they include:
- various departments and spheres of government
- civil society organisations dealing with various aspects of this challenge of abuse of women and children throughout the country
- business sector which is steadily coming on board to support this campaign and other work of the ministry to improve the lives of women, children and persons with disabilities
- international partners working with us in the implementation of various protocols on gender and children’s rights
- and most importantly, the media that has taken up this campaign and ensured that we spread the message to all the people of our country
Without your participation, we would not have succeeded to make the 16 Days of Activism one of the most recognisable campaign of government and to reach out to all South Africans with a common message of: "Don’t Look Away; Act Against Abuse"
Thank you.
Source: Department of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities
