Violence against women and girls transcends race and class and should be confronted and defeated wherever it raises its ugly head, North West Premier Thandi Modise said on International Day for the elimination of violence against women on Sunday.
In commending Ina Bonette for the courage to confront in court those who had allegedly violated her and calling for united action for a 365 days campaign for no violence against women and children, Premier Modise called on women and girls to speak out against physical or sexual abuse wherever they experience it, be it in their homes, workplaces, schools, streets and communities to end the culture of impunity.
“Perpetrators of violence against women should be exposed irrespective of who they are. Women must fight the sense of fear and shame that punishes them as victims who have already endured crime and now face stigma. Perpetrators should be the ones who feel disgraced, not their victims. We implore our courts to restore the dignity of our women with stiffer sentences and equally appeal to victims not to withdraw cases against perpetrators” Modise.
She called on communities to challenge the culture of discrimination that allows violence against women to continue and for real men to support the 16 Days of activism for no violence against women and children campaign.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel: 018 388 3705
Cell: 083 629 1987
Fax: 018 388 3157
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
