Campaign continues to raise awareness on abuse

Held every year from November 25 to December 10, The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is a campaign that raises awareness about violence against children and women. This year the campaign continues under the theme of “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” in 2013.

It will focus on three priority areas while underlining the intersections of economic and social rights with militarism and gender-based violence: violence perpetrated by state actors; domestic violence and the role of small arms; and sexual violence during and after conflict.

This year, a number of violent activities against women and children shocked the nation and one may only ask if this campaign that has been happening for the past years is really worth it.

According to Ms Abigail Maluka, a private social worker, to a certain extent the campaign has played a role in the past years. She said that a number of convicts she has counselled told her that campaigns such as this have made them realise how serious the issue of abuse is.

“Some men abuse women and children because they think that their position as heads in families allow them to do so, but with knowledge they gain through such campaigns, it helps,” explained Maluka.

She further suggested that more awareness should be raised during the period of the campaign and after,especially in rural villages and squatter camps where many abuse cases happen and go unreported.

The period of the international campaign includes Universal Children’s Day and World AIDS Day. During this time, the South African government runs the 16 days to make people aware of the negative impact of violence on women and children and to act against abuse.The main objectives of the 16 Days Campaign are to:

Raise awareness about domestic violence and human rights, with the goal of preventing future violence;

Encourage men to take a personal stance against violence;

Foster solidarity between all people on this issue;

Challenge people to speak out, and think about their own actions, language, and beliefs;

Encourage active civil society participation;

Lobby governments to take positive tangible action on this issue and to implement previous promises made to eliminate violence against women and to

Build a network of individuals and organizations committed to creating a community free of violence against women and children.

The provincial official launch of the 16 Days of Activism against women and child abuse will be held at Elukwatini on November 25.