Date: 24/11/2006
Source: Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
Title: Hangana: 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children
Introductory and purpose of the summit, remarks by the national convener of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Ms Nomatyala Hangana, Deputy Minister for Provincial and Local Government
We are gathered here today as government representatives of South Africa, representatives from around the continent, non-government organisations (NGOs), government departments, to say the simplest but most important thing and that is 'enough is enough.' We are here today to find ways and solutions to ending violence against women and children.
We are here to encourage women to reclaim their rights they fought so hard for, to be treated with respect and dignity. Ladies and gentlemen, the atrocities conducted against our women and children on a daily basis are far from echoing the sentiments of peace in our societies and treating them with respect and dignity they deserve as pillars of our communities. We are here to encourage women to speak out against any form of abuse. We are here to let women know that ending all forms of oppression which the apartheid government imposed upon all black people started with those who were oppressed when they said 'enough is enough.' If all those who were oppressed with the help of our neighbouring States did not form a collective in fighting apartheid, we would today still be living in perfect Verwoedian South Africa.
Women must therefore understand that rape, murdering and assaults of any kind on them constitute yet another worse form of apartheid and that if it doesn't start with them in saying enough is enough, I can guarantee you nothing will ever change. We are here to let those women in informal settlements and rural areas the most vulnerable in my view, to understand that yes, they may be poor and depending on these men for their livelihoods. But they still remain their own persons and no amount of poverty should turn them into men's sex toys and punching bags.
We are here to encourage real men, men who do not rape to speak to their counterparts that yes you might be physically stronger then women and children, but beating, raping and murdering them is not the way to express such strength.
Ladies and gentlemen, it would be interesting if farm owners were here because the campaign is challenging them too to act against abuse. On 15 October we launched the Farm Workers' Awareness Campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, in Ladysmith, and the farmers' associations committed themselves to acting against women abuse. We hope that all farming communities will adopt this aspect of the campaign that aims at educating rural women specifically those in farms about their rights.
We are here to look at effective ways in which our Constitutions as organisations and States can really work for the protection of women and children and thereby indeed giving them hope in this "age of hope," that their lives and rights are protected.
The concept paper for this campaign acknowledges the importance of spreading its wings beyond the boarders of South Africa. And the fact that today, ladies and gentlemen, we have delegates form our neighbouring States marks the effective implementation of this vision. It is when Africans come together and take head-on the problems that haunt their societies, like we did with apartheid that we will find real solutions to this scourge.
As we officially launch the campaign in this province tomorrow, we are not only saying violence against women and children must end but also raising funds for the shelters that work with abused women and children. In this regard we have officially launched this past Monday both the SMS and postcard campaigns. For every 'act against abuse,' an sms you send to 31616 you will have contributed R5 for abused women and children. For every signed and returned postcard you will have contributed R2 for abused women and children. I therefore appeal to all of you to help us raise money for these shelters and encourage others to do the same.
We hope that the torch of peace that we lit on 16 November at the Union Buildings will not only be symbolic of peace, but will also bring about real peace in our societies. With that torch of peace we are saying form partnerships with government in fighting this sick behaviour. We challenge you not to look away when seeing/knowing someone who is abused. We challenge you to act against abuse.
We further call upon all of you to join us in officially closing the campaign in Upington in the Northern Cape on 10 December 2006. I thank you!
Issued by: Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
24 November 2006
Source: Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
Title: Hangana: 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children
Introductory and purpose of the summit, remarks by the national convener of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Ms Nomatyala Hangana, Deputy Minister for Provincial and Local Government
We are gathered here today as government representatives of South Africa, representatives from around the continent, non-government organisations (NGOs), government departments, to say the simplest but most important thing and that is 'enough is enough.' We are here today to find ways and solutions to ending violence against women and children.
We are here to encourage women to reclaim their rights they fought so hard for, to be treated with respect and dignity. Ladies and gentlemen, the atrocities conducted against our women and children on a daily basis are far from echoing the sentiments of peace in our societies and treating them with respect and dignity they deserve as pillars of our communities. We are here to encourage women to speak out against any form of abuse. We are here to let women know that ending all forms of oppression which the apartheid government imposed upon all black people started with those who were oppressed when they said 'enough is enough.' If all those who were oppressed with the help of our neighbouring States did not form a collective in fighting apartheid, we would today still be living in perfect Verwoedian South Africa.
Women must therefore understand that rape, murdering and assaults of any kind on them constitute yet another worse form of apartheid and that if it doesn't start with them in saying enough is enough, I can guarantee you nothing will ever change. We are here to let those women in informal settlements and rural areas the most vulnerable in my view, to understand that yes, they may be poor and depending on these men for their livelihoods. But they still remain their own persons and no amount of poverty should turn them into men's sex toys and punching bags.
We are here to encourage real men, men who do not rape to speak to their counterparts that yes you might be physically stronger then women and children, but beating, raping and murdering them is not the way to express such strength.
Ladies and gentlemen, it would be interesting if farm owners were here because the campaign is challenging them too to act against abuse. On 15 October we launched the Farm Workers' Awareness Campaign in KwaZulu-Natal, in Ladysmith, and the farmers' associations committed themselves to acting against women abuse. We hope that all farming communities will adopt this aspect of the campaign that aims at educating rural women specifically those in farms about their rights.
We are here to look at effective ways in which our Constitutions as organisations and States can really work for the protection of women and children and thereby indeed giving them hope in this "age of hope," that their lives and rights are protected.
The concept paper for this campaign acknowledges the importance of spreading its wings beyond the boarders of South Africa. And the fact that today, ladies and gentlemen, we have delegates form our neighbouring States marks the effective implementation of this vision. It is when Africans come together and take head-on the problems that haunt their societies, like we did with apartheid that we will find real solutions to this scourge.
As we officially launch the campaign in this province tomorrow, we are not only saying violence against women and children must end but also raising funds for the shelters that work with abused women and children. In this regard we have officially launched this past Monday both the SMS and postcard campaigns. For every 'act against abuse,' an sms you send to 31616 you will have contributed R5 for abused women and children. For every signed and returned postcard you will have contributed R2 for abused women and children. I therefore appeal to all of you to help us raise money for these shelters and encourage others to do the same.
We hope that the torch of peace that we lit on 16 November at the Union Buildings will not only be symbolic of peace, but will also bring about real peace in our societies. With that torch of peace we are saying form partnerships with government in fighting this sick behaviour. We challenge you not to look away when seeing/knowing someone who is abused. We challenge you to act against abuse.
We further call upon all of you to join us in officially closing the campaign in Upington in the Northern Cape on 10 December 2006. I thank you!
Issued by: Ministry of Provincial and Local Government
24 November 2006
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