RECENTLY released statistics show that the fight against the abuse of women and children is far from over. In fact, it appears that there has not been a significant decrease in sexual assaults, with women-headed urban households more likely to be attacked, and 43 per cent of women reporting feeling unsafe.
“As we commemorate the annual ‘16 Days of Activism’ campaign, it is clear that we need to redouble our efforts to keep our women and children safe. The recently released Victims of Crime Survey shows that we haven’t done enough yet to protect our women and children,” said Charnel Hattingh, national marketing and communications manager at Fidelity ADT.
Her comments come during the ‘16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children,’ which kicked off on 25 November.
“Crimes against women and children should be rooted out, and this 16 days campaign certainly has value in again focusing our attention. However, our focus should extend to cover all 12 months of the year. We can do this by following basic safety tips and making sure we share these tips with our loved ones, and talk about safe personal habits throughout the year,” said Hattingh.
Many opportunistic criminals will be on the look-out for what they perceive to be ‘soft targets’. This means that being aware of your surroundings and potential threats is perhaps one of the most valuable lines of defence, she explains.
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Hattingh offers pointers for women, which she recommends should be discussed and shared far and wide.
“Of utmost importance is to trust your instincts. Women have great intuition and should listen to their instincts. If someone or something makes you feel uneasy, avoid the individual and leave the area. Make contact with your private security service provider and ask them if they offer a mobile panic alarm service, which could be downloaded to your mobile phone. Tell someone where you are going and the time you expect to return. Save to your mobile phone or memorise the details of the person to be contacted in the event of an emergency,” she said.
Other tips are to be aware of people around you when heading to your vehicle, especially at places such as shopping centres, and petrol stations, and to ensure that you take a moment to check the street before pulling into a driveway, be it your own or a friend’s.
If you are driving, the first thing to do once you are inside your vehicle is to ensure that all the doors are locked. Never drive with a handbag or any other valuable items on a seat or in the view of anyone looking into your vehicle from the outside.
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She said there are also safety tips which should be shared with children to help keep them safe from harm.
“They must always walk to or from school with a friend or friends. Stick to streets they know and never take short cuts through quiet areas or empty parking lots and never walk with cell phones and iPads in full view. If they get picked up at school, they should never leave the premises. They must never get into a stranger’s car. Remind them that you would never send someone they don’t know to fetch them. If a stranger approaches them, they should not talk to them no matter how friendly they may seem,” she said.
If your child does encounter any suspicious activity, encourage them to get a good look and memorise their physical details and clothing, as well as the vehicle they are in. Listen for any names or other details that might help identify them later.
Make sure your children memorise their full names, address and phone number. Using a play phone, teach them when and how to dial 10111.
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