launch of Postcard Campaign and Lighting of Torch of Peace
8 November 2007
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign
is an annual international campaign that originates from the first Women's
Global Leadership Institute sponsored by the Centre for Women's Global
Leadership in 1991. It is an awareness-raising campaign that begins on 25
November (International Day for No Violence against Women) each year and runs
through to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). The sixteen-day period
is also marked by two other important international commemoration dates:
International HIV and AIDS Day (1 December) and International Day for the
Disabled (3 December).
The purpose of the campaign is to generate increased awareness about
violence directed at women and children. A strong focus of this year's campaign
is to involve men and boys in the discourse about combating violence in our
homes, at schools, in our communities and in the workplace. The theme for this
year is "Don't look way, act against abuse."
The campaign wants to acknowledge that there are many men that are not
perpetrators, but partners in this struggle. The importance of the
participation of men and the boy child in the fight against gender-based
violence, particularly in rural and per-urban areas will be highlighted through
the Million Men's March that is planned to take place on 25 November to mark
the opening ceremony of the campaign.
On 8 November, the campaign will be initiated with the lighting of The Torch
of Peace and the launch of the Postcard Campaign at the Union Buildings in
Pretoria. This symbolic event will form a link between the 16 Days of Activism
campaign and other national government campaigns.
South African Post Office, South African Post Office (SAPO) is sponsoring
two million postcards which will raise funds for non-governmental organisations
(NGOs) that support survivors and victims of gender-based violence and children
abuse. The post card campaign is significant as it is an interactive element
that allows for the public to participate in the campaign irrespective of where
they are located.
It also creates awareness of domestic violence related issues through the
messages it carries. The postcards also serve as a registration to attend the
planned marches taking place in every province on 25 November 2007. The main
march is scheduled to take place in Bloemfontein, Free State.
Enquiries:
Yoliswa Hardy
Cell: 083 590 6333
Matshepo Seedat
Cell: 083 228 5041
Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS) on behalf of Department of
Provincial and Local Government
8 November 2007
