Diakonia march calls for end of abuse and violence on women and children

MEMBERS of the Diakonia Council of Churches took to the streets of Durban on Thursday to raise awareness over the alarming rate at which abuse of women and children occurs.

The march started at Diakonia Centre and proceeded to Medwood Gardens across City Hall where a memorandum was handed over to representatives from eTthekwini mayor’s office, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African Police Services (SAPS). According to the organisation, gender-based violence is unfortunately one of the social ills which plagues the country, particularly KZN much too frequently.

Nokulunga Khumalo, Programme Manager at Diakonia Council of Churches, said Diakonia hoped to unite the church, interfaith and social justice partners as well as ordinary men, women and youth in a march against all forms of gender-based violence.

“Our theme is Unite to end Abuse and Violence and we want all of civil society to come together to stand in solidarity with women and children who experience rape, abuse, sexual harassment and or domestic abuse to say no to abuse and violence,” said Khumalo.

ALSO READ: Thursdays in Black campaign keeps focus on gender-based violence

The march coincided with Diakonia’s Thursdays in Black (TIB) campaign, which was launched during the 16 days of Activism Campaign in 2008 and has since been succesful in creating awareness of gender-based violence matters. The idea behind the campaign is for people to wear black on Thursdays with the TIB button to promote the campaign and raise awareness about the extent of violence on women and children. The positive response has seen thousands of women and men as well as celebrities commit themselves to wearing black on Thursday in an outward sign of mourning and of standing in solidarity with victims and survivors of gender based violence.

Church leaders and inter-faith leaders led the march which attracted scores of active citizens. A short programme took place at the end of the march in which a rape survivor and church leader spoke, before the memorandum was handed over to the authorities. The memorandum called for eThekwini Municipality, the NPA and the SAPS to recognise violence against women, children and men not only as a social injustice, but also as a human rights violation.

“Firstly, the eThekwini Municipality to intensify their efforts in ensuring that Durban is a safer city free from violence against women and children. The NPA to prioritize the prosecution and conviction of offender of gender based violence and SAPS to be more sensitive and vigilant in handling all reported cases. We ask our civic authorities to step up their game regarding gender based violence 365 days of the year,” aid the memorandum.

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