International Women’s Day – Prioritise safety of our women, daughters
Today is International Women’s Day and an opportunity to make a positive difference in the fight against crime.
International Women’s Day [https://www.internationalwomensday.com], commemorated on 8 March is the perfect opportunity for South Africans to renew their commitment to the safety of our women and daughters.
The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is #PressForProgress – a strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender-inclusive.
“We believe a big part of this also involves a refreshed drive to ensure that any sort of crime against women is rooted out. We should use days such as this to remind ourselves that we must do more to make life more secure for women,” said Stuart Clarkson, Managing Executive for Fidelity ADT.
Criminals often see women as vulnerable and easy targets. Clarkson recommended remaining vigilant and never letting one’s guard down so as to avoid becoming a crime statistic. The key to safety is always to err on the side of caution.
Clarkson offered the following pointers:
• 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 asking them if they offer a mobile panic alarm service, which could be downloaded on 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.
• Be aware of people around you when heading to your vehicle, especially at places such as shopping centres, petrol stations, and the likes. 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 view of anyone looking into your vehicle from the outside. Try and make your car a mobile-free zone so you can concentrate on your surrounds and keep you and your family safe.
“I encourage women not only to use these tips, but to share them with family and friends. In this way we can help make a positive difference in the fight against crime and keep our women safe,” Clarkson concluded.
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