Protect young female professionals against domestic violence – MEC
JOBURG – 25 November, marks the beginning of the 24th 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign which was initiated in 1991 – and Gauteng MEC for Community Safety, Sizakele Nkosi-Malobane, has called for action to protect young female professionals caught in a web of domestic violence.
This annual campaign, to put an end to violence against women and children, is a United Nations-endorsed advocacy programme which runs until 10 December. South Africa adopted the campaign in 1998 as one of the intervention strategies towards creating a society free of violence. The campaign has been extended to include issues relating to violence against children.
Recognising that violence against women and children doesn’t end, the campaign was broadened to encompass a 365-day integrated plan of action.
The international theme for this year’s campaign is, ‘From peace in the home to peace in the world. Let’s challenge militarism and end violence against women’.
Under this theme, the campaign will focus on three priority areas:
- Threatened or actual violence perpetrated by State actors to maintain or attain power
- Domestic violence and the role of small arms
- Sexual violence during and after conflict.
In South Africa, Nkosi-Malobane said the campaign was viewed as a women’s business and targeted mostly women and children. However, she said there had been a paradigm shift wherein men have been encouraged to be active participants in matters relating to the fight against women abuse. “The birth of the Man As Safety Promoters is a consequence of the conscious mass mobilisation of men to join forces in eradicating this social anomaly,” she said.
Nkosi-Malobane stated that the campaign needed to be strengthened to protect young female professionals who are independent and financially stable, but caught in a web of domestic violence.
“Over the years, some sectors of society held the perception [that] domestic violence is prevalent among the socio-economically disenfranchised communities. Contrary to this, [the] shocking reality [is] that this barbaric act knows no class, race, colour or creed,” Nkosi-Malobane said.
The MEC said young professionals need to cease to be silent victims who unconsciously perpetuate this vicious cycle. Nkosi-Malobane added that stories of young and old professional women across all racial groups are heard in corridors. “Affluent families experience incest and this often leaves the ones affected scarred for life. A significant number of professionals in the middle and upper middle classes continue to be silent victims.
“Façade characterises their lifestyle. Is this lifestyle worth it? Certainly not. These professionals have succumbed to societal pressure and often want to be viewed as being perfect.”
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