The Sandton Community Policing Forum has partnered with Sandton Police Station to host a series of activations in support of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign.
A team gathered at Morningside Shopping Centre on 7 December to bring awareness to the cause with the help of the Salvation Army.
The worldwide campaign was first launched in 1991 at the first Women’s Global Leadership Institute triggered by the Montreal massacre in Canada in 1989 when a group of female engineering students were shot. Government has since endorsed the campaign and police services have taken active strides to join the campaign.
The Sandton policing forum and police station have worked in collaboration for a number of years, a relationship that has benefited the community as a whole greatly. According to Louise Agar of the policing forum, it is important for people to know that there is an additional arm in the safety and security chain. “It is important that we come out and speak to people, let them know about the CPF and what it represents,” she said.
The Salvation Army has joined the group over the span of three weekends to bring to light the real-life situations facing women and children today. “People think that the Salvation Army is just after donations but we are about so much more than that. We offer women and children the opportunity to find a way out of a difficult situation. We give them hope,” said Major Moya Glen of the Salvation Army.
Glen added that one of the most common violations against women and children is human trafficking. “It is a sad reality that we have to face but people also need to know that there are steps that we can take to combat the situation.”
The Salvation Army shares the following safety tips in the age of human trafficking:
- Don’t go anywhere without someone knowing where you are going. If there is a problem someone needs to know where to start looking.
- Don’t go anywhere alone – there is safety in numbers.
- Be wise about what you do and who you do it with.
- No secrets/no lies – if you cannot be open and truthful about a situation, you should not be involved in that situation. If you cannot be open and truthful about a friend, he/she is not a good friend for you to have.
- Never hand over travel and identity documents.
- Remember your password – one little word could save your life if you were to find yourself in a situation of uncertainty, difficulty or danger.
- Be careful what information you share with strangers whether it be in person, on cell phones or on the internet.
Details: Sandton Police Station 011 722 4200; Salvation Army 24-hour hotline 08000 RESCUE (73728).
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