Midrand CPF encourages the community to support 16 Days of Activism
MIDRAND – Midrand Community Policing Forum encourages residents to wear orange ribbons for the 16 Days of Activism against domestic violence.
In commemoration of 16 Days of Activism, Midrand Community Policing Forum (CPF) has encouraged community members to take part and support the initiative by wearing orange ribbons.
Jacqui von Loggenburg, Midrand CPF’s public relations officer, said in the fight against gender-based violence, Midrand Victim Empowerment Centre, CPF, Sector Crime Forum, and Midrand Police Station asked all community members to wear an orange ribbon in support of the motto, ‘You will not abuse and you will report abuse.’
Von Loggenburg added that most people did not know what it meant to be abused, explaining abuse as ‘a misuse of power which uses bonds of intimacy, trust and dependency to make the victim vulnerable’.
“From 25 November to 10 December, we will be celebrating 16 Days of Activism, a world-wide campaign which was first introduced by the United Nations. The colour orange means, ‘Are you going to do anything about it?’
“We would like the Midrand community to be a part of this campaign by wearing orange ribbons. One of the reasons we stand behind this campaign is because not only has gender-based violence been a problem in Midrand, we have seen a increase in domestic violence, and you will see how many woman and children have been murdered in South Africa.
“Often the survivors don’t know that they are being abused, and don’t know where to go for help. We want them to know how to go about reporting abuse.”
Von Loggenburg added that if your life was in danger or you knew someone who’s life was, there were various platforms you could use for assistance. “You can even send a please call me to *120*7867# or even SMS ‘Help’ to 31531. If you need help immediately, contact Tears Foundation on *134*7355# or info@tears.co.za.”
She concluded that information would be posted daily on their social media platforms, informing community members on gender-based violence and how to overcome it, get help or get someone who was being abused the help they need.
Details: Midrand Victim Empowerment Centre 076 445 2451.
