District Community in KwaZulu-Natal on Gender-Based Violence
6 December 2007
Date: Friday, 7 December 2007
Time: 10h00 to 13h00
Venue: Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal
Minister Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang will join the rest of the country in
observing the 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children.
This annual campaign being organised by the South African government since
1998, generates increased awareness on gender-based violence and its negative
impact.
Over the years there has been considerable progress in making the scale of
violence against women and children widely known and in developing legal and
practical instruments to strengthen the protection of survivors of violence in
South Africa. Many of the current responses are, inextricably bound up with
broader strategies to curb generalised crime and violence in the country.
"In a greater or lesser degree, women and children are subjected to
physical, sexual and psychological abuse that cuts across lines of income,
class and culture," says the Minister.
"Gender-based violence both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment
by women and children of their human rights. It also robs them of the right to
the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health," she adds.
The Minister will be accompanied by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Health Ms
Nkonyeni, Ugu District Mayor Mr Cele, Director-General of Health Mr Thami
Mseleku, Deputy-Manager of Victim Empowerment Mrs Madikizela and officials from
departments from Safety and Security, Health and women from the Natal Women's
Resource Centre.
For more information call:
Charity Bhengu
Cell: 083 679 7424
Mbangwa
Cell: 083 459 8695
Issued by: Department of Health
6 December 2007
