and Local Government, during the launch of the Postcard Campaign and the
Official Lighting of the Torch of Peace, at the Union Buildings in
Pretoria
8 November 2007
Programme director, Dr Simphiwe Mngadi
Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Chairperson of the Board of the South African Post Office, Ms Vuyo
Mahlati
Acting Chief Executive Officer of the South African Post Office, Ms
Motshoanetsi Lefoka
Representatives of our partners from the private sector
Representatives of Civil Society Organisation Partners
Senior officials from government
Representatives of the media
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are here today to officially launch the Postcard Campaign 2007, which is
a key feature of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for a number of years. Since
its inception, the 16 Days of Activism Postcard has served as a communication
vehicle through which members of the public have been able to "voice" their
support for the 16 Days of Activism Campaign and what it stands for, an end to
the abuse and violence directed at women and children.
Today we are calling on all South Africans in their millions to play a
small, but important role in supporting this campaign. By signing the card and
sending it to a Post Office near them, all women, men and children who support
the fight against this cancer of violence and abuse of women and children will
not only communicate their stance on this important matter, but also help raise
funds to support places of safety that provide shelter to victims of abuse and
domestic violence.
While the postcard will continue to serve as a communication and fund
raising tool in our 2007 campaign, it will also serve as a means of
concretising the commitment to end violence against women and children.
Printed on this year's postcard, is a pledge that everybody who signs the
postcard will commit to. By signing the postcard, people will be pledging to
"act against abuse" wherever and whenever they observe it.
The postcard will be used as a registration form for the Million Men's March
taking place as part of the opening ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism
Campaign to be held in Bloemfontein on 25 November 2007. The Million Men's
March is an exciting innovation to the 2007, 16 Days of Activism Campaign,
whereby we are calling on men and boys supported by women and girls to take to
the streets in their thousands in an organised and disciplined manner
throughout the country on the first day of the campaign.
I want to urge people who fill in and sign the postcards to please make sure
that they return the signed part of the postcard to any Post Office. In the
past, although large numbers of postcards were distributed, only a small number
was returned to our Post Offices. Returning the cards to a Post Office will
assist us not only to determine how many people participated in the march or
committed to the pledge, but will also help us raise the funds that are so
desperately needed by our organisations, charities, shelters and care-givers
that work in this field.
Perhaps, this is an opportune moment, programme director, for me to
acknowledge the support of our key partners in this campaign: the South African
Post Office, who spearheaded the Postcard Campaign even before I became
convener of the 16 Days Campaign in 2006; the Government Communications (GCIS),
for handling the communications and media components for all 16 Days of
Activism events and programmes, including those relating to the Postcard
Campaign; Pick 'n Pay, as well as other private sector partners for assisting
with the distribution of postcards; and of course, Engender Health, together
with all the other men's organisations that are participating in this year's
campaign. As a matter of fact, the pledge on the postcard has been generously
given to the campaign by Engender Health's Men-as-Partners Programme.
Ladies and gentlemen, the campaign has this year lived up to the resolutions
made in the Women's Summit held in September 2006 as part of last year's 16
Days of Activism Campaign opening ceremony held in Limpopo. One of those
resolutions was to reach out to men, boys and men's organisations and have them
help us spread the message of no violence against women and children.
Indeed, we know that although abusers are more likely to be men than women,
not all men are abusers. I am sure most of you have heard the story that has
been in the news recently about the "hostel mother" in a highly-regarded girls'
boarding school in the Vaal who abused some girls there. Likewise, you have
heard the stories of fathers or uncles sexually abusing their own children or
nieces; of fathers killing their children in order to spite the children's
mothers; of serial rapists and murderers whose victims have been largely
defenceless women and children.
Despite these stories, we know that there are many men who do not, and who
would not, commit such acts. Some of these men could have been perpetrators of
one form of abuse or another in the past, but have since changed their ways. It
is these men we would like to have joined us in the campaign; to help raise
awareness and bring about the much needed behaviour change.
Indeed, a recent study by one of our partners has shown that we are
gradually making headway with regard to raising awareness. The study showed
that levels of awareness about abuse against women and children and its
negative impact have increased dramatically. However, we should not be lulled
into believing that our work is done. Our work is not yet finished. The greater
challenge remains that of bringing about behaviour change so that the scourge
can be eliminated from every corner of our society. The battle will have been
won when we can see evidence of behaviour change, when our news is dominated
more by stories of citizens empowering one another rather than maiming, raping
and killing one another. That will happen if we all work together, every single
day, to ensure the eradication of every form of violence and abuse from our
society.
Partnerships such as the one evidenced in today's event are just but one
vehicle for achieving this. However, we should remember that just as there is a
serious need to help victims and survivors of violence and abuse recover, heal
and confidently take charge of their lives again; there is also a need to help
perpetrators and potential perpetrators to change the way they think, change
their mindset, so that they can realise that violating the weak and helpless is
a violation of our basic human rights.
Programme director, we will soon be moving to the west wing lawn where the
postcard pledges will be signed and the Torch of Peace lit. The Torch of Peace
will stay lit throughout the 16 Days and will be passed on to the Minister of
Transport at the end of the 16 Days Campaign period on 10 December to mark the
beginning of the Arrive Alive Campaign. The Torch will continue to be passed on
to other government departments to "light up" and energise their national
campaigns throughout the coming year.
To conclude, then, programme director, I would like to urge everyone present
here today to take these symbolic gestures seriously and to take a personal vow
(deep in their hearts) that they will endeavour never to abuse anyone, be it
physically, emotionally, sexually or otherwise. More important, however, I
would like everyone to dare speak out and to dare act against abuse whenever
and wherever they see it, to be bold enough to "interfere" and to get the
abusers to seek help and to stop!
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
8 November 2007
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za)
