Provincial and Local Government and National convener for 16 Days of Activism
for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign
19 November 2007
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a
United Nations campaign. It takes place annually from 25 November
(International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International
Human Rights Day).
Since 1999 the South African Government has run a parallel campaign that
includes issues relating to violence against children.
The primary purpose of the campaign is to generate an increased level of
awareness amongst South Africans pertaining to the incidence of violence
perpetuated against women and children and how it manifests itself within South
African society and the negative impact in vulnerable groups. Other key related
objectives of the campaign are to:
* increase awareness of gender-based violence and violence directed at
children, particularly those living in rural and other traditionally
marginalised communities
* encourage behaviour change among perpetrators and potential perpetrators
of violence against women and children
* highlight the correlation between violence against women and children and
other social ills such as substance abuse
* raise funds to support places of safety providing services to victims and
survivors of violence and abuse
* underscore the extreme vulnerability to abuse faced by special groups,
such as farm workers and women and children with disabilities
* strengthen inter-sectoral partnerships aimed at eradicating the violence
and abuse suffered by women and children
* facilitate the participation of men and boys in campaign activities and
events
* encourage the larger society to speak out and to take action against
abuse. Studies conducted by Government Communications (GCIS) indicate that the
level of awareness of the 16 Days Campaign has grown tremendously in both urban
and rural areas but the abuse of women and children in the country remains
unacceptably high. Statistics show that the level of awareness of the 16 Days
Campaign has grown from 16 percent in 2003 to 33 percent in 2006.
It should be noted that the campaign has a number of key commemorative
dates:
* 25 November: International Day for No Violence against Women
* 1 December: World AIDS Day
* 3 December: International Day for People Living with Disabilities
* 10 December: International Human Rights Day
This year the 16 Days of Activism Campaign has a number of key elements:
* the Opening Ceremony and the Million Men's March
* the Torch of Peace Campaign
* the Postcard Campaign
* the National Calendar of Events
* the SMS Campaign and Cyber Dialogues initiative
* the Victim's Charter
* the Closing Ceremony
This year, the opening ceremony will take place in Bloemfontein, Free State.
The main feature of the opening ceremony will be the Million Men's March. The
main march will take place in Bloemfontein with satellite marches taking place
in all nine provinces on 25 November 2007. The Million Men's March will be
symbolic of men and boys joining together with women to say "No!" to the abuse
of women and children. It will further highlight the fact that violence against
women and children is not only a women's issue, but a societal issue, an issue
that should concern everybody. Details of provincial marches and routes
including the host province will be sent to media a few days before the opening
ceremony.
Registration for the march costs a minimum of R10,00 and will be facilitated
through the Postcard Campaign. Postcards for registration are available from
all post offices, participating Pick 'n Pay stores and government departments
across the country. It is important that when potential participants register,
they return the stub with their name and address to the post office or centre
where they received the registration postcards. Funds raised through the
registration process will be used to support communityâbased organisations
(CBOs) and places of safety that cater to the needs of victims and survivors of
abuse.
The SMS Campaign is another mechanism for members of the public to get
involved in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. The aim of the SMS campaign is to
provide an opportunity for the general public to pledge support for
non-violence, to spread the message to "act against abuse" and to raise funds
for places of safety for abused women and children. Members of the public can
contribute to the campaign by sending an SMS with the words "16 Days" to 31616.
For each SMS sent, a donation of R5 is made to the 16 Days of Activism fund.
The donations are administered, managed and disbursed by the Foundation for
Human Rights (FHR), a civil society partner and friend of the campaign.
The purpose of the national calendar of events is to enable interested
parties to find out about the activities, events and programmes being
implemented across the country as part of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign. All
government departments (from all three spheres), private sector partners and
civil society organisations participating in the campaign are requested to
submit their 16 Days of Activism Campaign programmes for inclusion in the
national calendar of events which will be posted on the Women's Net website
(www.womensnet.org.za).
The national closing ceremony will take place in the North West province
this year. While this event will mark the end of the 16 Days of Activism period
for 2007, the fight against the scourge of violence against women and children
will continue throughout the year. As a part of the closing ceremony, the Torch
of Peace, which symbolises the collaborative initiatives of governments to end
the scourge, will be transferred to the Department of Transport to mark the
beginning of the Arrive Alive Campaign. Likewise, all sectors of our society
are encouraged to continue with their programmes throughout the year.
Government has created an extensive policy and legislative framework that
deals with crime and signals to offenders that we will not tolerate violent
abuse. The Domestic Violence Act of 1998 and the Sexual Offences Bill reaffirm
the rights of women and children to live in a violence-free society. This
legislation will provide greater protection to vulnerable persons who are
victims of sexual offences.
The Justice Crime Prevention Security Cluster (JCPS) is working towards
strengthening all police stations by equipping them with specialised unit's
i.e. Family Violence, Child Protection and Sexual Offences Units. This will
ensure that all police stations get specialised units which will assist in
preventing delays in the processing of cases reported.
In addition to the work that government has done to ensure the South
Africans live in a violence free country, the 365 Days programme and National
Action Plan towards Gender Justice in South Africa was successfully launched on
8 March 2007. Some of the activities undertaken as part of this National Action
Plan include:
Between the 3 and 5 October 2007, in collaboration with the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime, various religious leaders such as Rev Ndungane, the
National Religious Leaders Forum and other faith-based organisations, hosted
the first ever international forum: Global Interfaith Dialogue in Cape Town.
The forum was held to raise awareness amongst religious leaders and the
faith-based communities on ways to eliminate human trafficking.
The 16 Days Campaign is not only a campaign of government, but encompasses a
wider partnership with civil society, faith-based organisations, gender-based
organisations, traditional leaders, trade unions, the media, business,
state-owned enterprises and the youth. Government values the partnerships that
have been built over the years and would like to thank each and every partner
for their contribution. We urge you to intensify your role now and into the
future.
Together, let us act against abuse!
Thank you.
Issued by: Department of Provincial and Local Government
19 November 2007
Source: Department of Provincial and Local Government (http://www.dplg.gov.za/)
