Date: 26/11/2006
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: 16 Days of Activism launch at Sedibeng District Municipality
Speech by the Gauteng MEC for Local Government, Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu, at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Sedibeng District Municipality
Programme Director
Sedibeng District Executive Mayor, Mlungisi Hlongwane
Members of the Mayoral Committee
The elders of the Church
Members of the congregation
Women groups
Business leaders
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Faith-based organisations (FBOs)
Ladies and gentlemen
Distinguished guests
Each year, South Africans from all walks of life heed the call to intensify the national movement against women and child abuse. We rally around to observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, as a symbolic gesture that we are determined to eradicate gender-based violence, especially against women and children. In doing so, we are mindful of the scourge of HIV and AIDS, any form of abuse against women and children; be it physical, verbal or psychological abuse.
Again this year, we join civil society and organisations such as People Opposed to Women Abuse (POWA), Child Line, Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Commission on Gender Equality and the Men's Forum to mention but a few, to express our disgust and displeasure at this cancer of abuse. We are uniting in growing numbers to fight violence against women and children.
By coming to this area of Sedibeng District we are indicating that the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children should be taken to the grassroots, where people are residing. We do so bearing in mind that we also need to strengthen our partnership against AIDS, since the vulnerability of women is a key factor in the spread of HIV infection and that most families are headed by AIDS orphans.
Programme Director, it is important that this year we strengthen the campaign for no violence against women and children, and to make special efforts to spread our message to the grassroots level and beyond our borders. It is at local level that issues of abuse, rape, child neglect, sexual harassment and emotional abuse happen daily. It is important for all of us to sign a pledge against any form of abuse, especially abuse perpetrated against women and children.
Recent statistics show that one in four women in South Africa is in an abusive relationship. It is sad that twelve years into the new democratic dispensation, we have in our midst male counterparts who have made it a hobby to abuse their partners. We are committed as government, working with other stakeholders in rooting out this cancer.
Importantly so, communities need to blow the whistle against women and child abuse. We should stop sweeping these things under the carpet because we too are guilty by keeping quiet we are in a sense accomplices. It does not matter whether the alleged perpetrator is a breadwinner or not as it has been the case in many instances whereby a father sexually abuse his children and the mother decides to keep quite and report the matter to the police.
It happens also that a woman decides to die in silence while in an abusive relationship because the alleged perpetrator, happens to be a breadwinner. In harnessing and strengthening this partnership, we must work with law enforcement agencies.
Gender violence perpetuates itself because of the patriarchal system that operates in our homes, in our workplace and in society at large. Men's superiority complex should be challenged in as much as we challenged white superiority in the past. Male perpetrators must not be glorified as macho. Men should say it aloud that to beat a woman is not "cool." It is actually a sign of weakness and insecurity.
Community action against women and child abuse must be escalated. Parents must instil in their families the value of respect for the dignity of every human-being. Gender violence, especially women battering and any form of sexual abuse must be condemned. Boys and girls must be brought up in an environment free of gender discrimination and violence.
Programme Director, as government, we are doing all we can, through the law and other ways to fight violence against women and children. The Criminal Justice System is committed in dealing ruthlessly with alleged perpetrators of women and child abuse.
Men and women in blue, are equally committed in addressing these social ills, hence a dedicated team of police officers have undergone specialised training to be more sensitive when dealing with victims of abuse, while on the other hand stop the offenders in the tracks and ensure hefty sentences for those found guilty of any form of abuse.
When the Sexual Offenders Bill is finalised, we hope that it would broaden the definition of sexual violence and help ensure heavy sentences for convicted offenders.
We urge perpetrators of these crimes to stop with their actions as they are hell-bent on destroying our nation and the future generation by engaging in these acts.
I would like to applaud the Men's Forum for championing the cause, giving a platform to men to show their disgust against women and children abuse.
As we start with the campaign, let's ensure that during the 16 days, we show our support and solidarity by wearing a white ribbon. This will serve as an indication that we do not accept women and child abuse.
Wearing a white ribbon is an indication that we are united in support of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.
Parents must instil in their families the value of respect for the dignity of every human being. Gender violence, especially women battering and any form of sexual abuse must be condemned. Boys and girls must be brought up in an environment free of gender discrimination and violence.
Every home must be a shelter for abused woman and children in the neighbourhood. It is high time that we protect every woman and child who is exposed to abuse. We all must take responsibility in fighting the scourge of violence against women and children. You or your sister and child may be the next victim. So, we can't be silent forever. Speak up against gender violence.
Local government has a key role to play in mobilising ward committees and Community Development Workers (CDWs) in playing an active role in rooting out any form of abuse.
We must combine our efforts to ensure the implementation of the 365 Days National Plans against gender violence, since violent crimes against women and children remain unacceptably high.
In conclusion, allow me to quote Ellen G White from her book titled Education:
"The greatest want of the world is the want of men or women, who will not be bought nor sold, men who in their innermost souls are true and honest, men or women who do not fear to call sin by its name, men or women whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men or women who will stand for the right though the heavens fall."
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Local Government, Gauteng Provincial Government
26 November 2006
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: Mahlangu: 16 Days of Activism launch at Sedibeng District Municipality
Speech by the Gauteng MEC for Local Government, Qedani Dorothy Mahlangu, at the launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, Sedibeng District Municipality
Programme Director
Sedibeng District Executive Mayor, Mlungisi Hlongwane
Members of the Mayoral Committee
The elders of the Church
Members of the congregation
Women groups
Business leaders
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
Faith-based organisations (FBOs)
Ladies and gentlemen
Distinguished guests
Each year, South Africans from all walks of life heed the call to intensify the national movement against women and child abuse. We rally around to observe the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, as a symbolic gesture that we are determined to eradicate gender-based violence, especially against women and children. In doing so, we are mindful of the scourge of HIV and AIDS, any form of abuse against women and children; be it physical, verbal or psychological abuse.
Again this year, we join civil society and organisations such as People Opposed to Women Abuse (POWA), Child Line, Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Commission on Gender Equality and the Men's Forum to mention but a few, to express our disgust and displeasure at this cancer of abuse. We are uniting in growing numbers to fight violence against women and children.
By coming to this area of Sedibeng District we are indicating that the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children should be taken to the grassroots, where people are residing. We do so bearing in mind that we also need to strengthen our partnership against AIDS, since the vulnerability of women is a key factor in the spread of HIV infection and that most families are headed by AIDS orphans.
Programme Director, it is important that this year we strengthen the campaign for no violence against women and children, and to make special efforts to spread our message to the grassroots level and beyond our borders. It is at local level that issues of abuse, rape, child neglect, sexual harassment and emotional abuse happen daily. It is important for all of us to sign a pledge against any form of abuse, especially abuse perpetrated against women and children.
Recent statistics show that one in four women in South Africa is in an abusive relationship. It is sad that twelve years into the new democratic dispensation, we have in our midst male counterparts who have made it a hobby to abuse their partners. We are committed as government, working with other stakeholders in rooting out this cancer.
Importantly so, communities need to blow the whistle against women and child abuse. We should stop sweeping these things under the carpet because we too are guilty by keeping quiet we are in a sense accomplices. It does not matter whether the alleged perpetrator is a breadwinner or not as it has been the case in many instances whereby a father sexually abuse his children and the mother decides to keep quite and report the matter to the police.
It happens also that a woman decides to die in silence while in an abusive relationship because the alleged perpetrator, happens to be a breadwinner. In harnessing and strengthening this partnership, we must work with law enforcement agencies.
Gender violence perpetuates itself because of the patriarchal system that operates in our homes, in our workplace and in society at large. Men's superiority complex should be challenged in as much as we challenged white superiority in the past. Male perpetrators must not be glorified as macho. Men should say it aloud that to beat a woman is not "cool." It is actually a sign of weakness and insecurity.
Community action against women and child abuse must be escalated. Parents must instil in their families the value of respect for the dignity of every human-being. Gender violence, especially women battering and any form of sexual abuse must be condemned. Boys and girls must be brought up in an environment free of gender discrimination and violence.
Programme Director, as government, we are doing all we can, through the law and other ways to fight violence against women and children. The Criminal Justice System is committed in dealing ruthlessly with alleged perpetrators of women and child abuse.
Men and women in blue, are equally committed in addressing these social ills, hence a dedicated team of police officers have undergone specialised training to be more sensitive when dealing with victims of abuse, while on the other hand stop the offenders in the tracks and ensure hefty sentences for those found guilty of any form of abuse.
When the Sexual Offenders Bill is finalised, we hope that it would broaden the definition of sexual violence and help ensure heavy sentences for convicted offenders.
We urge perpetrators of these crimes to stop with their actions as they are hell-bent on destroying our nation and the future generation by engaging in these acts.
I would like to applaud the Men's Forum for championing the cause, giving a platform to men to show their disgust against women and children abuse.
As we start with the campaign, let's ensure that during the 16 days, we show our support and solidarity by wearing a white ribbon. This will serve as an indication that we do not accept women and child abuse.
Wearing a white ribbon is an indication that we are united in support of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children.
Parents must instil in their families the value of respect for the dignity of every human being. Gender violence, especially women battering and any form of sexual abuse must be condemned. Boys and girls must be brought up in an environment free of gender discrimination and violence.
Every home must be a shelter for abused woman and children in the neighbourhood. It is high time that we protect every woman and child who is exposed to abuse. We all must take responsibility in fighting the scourge of violence against women and children. You or your sister and child may be the next victim. So, we can't be silent forever. Speak up against gender violence.
Local government has a key role to play in mobilising ward committees and Community Development Workers (CDWs) in playing an active role in rooting out any form of abuse.
We must combine our efforts to ensure the implementation of the 365 Days National Plans against gender violence, since violent crimes against women and children remain unacceptably high.
In conclusion, allow me to quote Ellen G White from her book titled Education:
"The greatest want of the world is the want of men or women, who will not be bought nor sold, men who in their innermost souls are true and honest, men or women who do not fear to call sin by its name, men or women whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men or women who will stand for the right though the heavens fall."
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Local Government, Gauteng Provincial Government
26 November 2006
Advertisement
EMAIL THIS ARTICLE SAVE THIS ARTICLE FEEDBACK
To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here
