Date: 19/03/2004
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs
Title: N Mapisa-Nqakula: Opening of Ikhaya Lethemba Centre for Victims of Domestic Abuse
ADDRESS BY NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS, OFFICIAL OPENING OF IKHAYA LETHEMBA CENTRE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, Johannesburg, 19 March 2004
The reason for which we meet here today is ground breaking. For the first time in our fight to restore the dignity of women, Government will avail a fully equipped facility to create comfort for victims of domestic abuse.
It should be significant that we all meet here again only one week after we have wrapped up the celebrations of the International Women's day and the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Women's Charter.
For its part, the women's charter had advocated for society to take seriously the social and security issues facing women of our country. 50 years on, we meet here to give practical expression to one of these ideals of the women's charter. Because one of the things that is foremost in the governance approach of our democratic state, is to ensure that the commitments that we have made through conventions such as the women's charter, should not only remain reference points in dusty records. They should find a way into our activities of programmes of implementation.
We are aware of the amount of time the department and its stakeholders have put into this work and that is the reason why when the invitation arrived at my desk we immediately thought that we have to come here and celebrate with you this achievement that will mean so much for victims of domestic abuse in Gauteng. It is an achievement that we are truly proud of, whose benefits we recognize in the fight to improve the lives of those sectors of our society that are vulnerable.
Recently, I have had a keen interest in case that had been brought before our Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. A woman who has been convicted in the lower court on a charge of murdering her husband is appealing this conviction on grounds that she is a victim of abuse.
I do not necessarily want to raise the legal merits of the law in this case. I am sure that our judges will be competent enough to adjudicate this case within the necessary legal parameters. For me there is a more serious social dynamic that needs to be addressed at a more broader level, even beyond just the boundaries of the law.
As reports of the case were being flighted on national television news day after day, my worry about women in this position also grew by the day. On the one hand we are dealing here with a woman who has taken somebody's life, something society scoffs upon. On the other hand there is also a real reality that when the very same society has failed to protect these women from the pain of abuse, what real recourse do they have, where do they run to?
A home is where everyone should have the reassurance of safety and care, but for these women it has been difficult to feel secure in their own homes and it simple to understand why they would be driven into these kinds of acts only to stay alive.
Society, and indeed us as a Government cannot just stand in the distance and point accusing fingers at these women when such crimes have occurred. The opening of this centre today is right at the core of our ability to do something in order to help those who are abused.
Even as we celebrate the maturity of our Women's Charter, we are aware that many women are still experiencing domestic abuse and public violence everyday. We are alive to the many socio-economic factors that contribute to the perpetuation of these violent crimes against women and children. This is a reality that many women across the world live with, even in some of our most advanced democracies. However I must acknowledge some of the positive steps that have been taken that lead us in the direction of hope here in South Africa.
Although it does not seem likely at face value, but it should be course for celebration that the statistics are showing an increase in the abuse of women. This is because the increase in the statistics shows that the growing number of women are breaking the silence and reporting these cases. The abuse of women can no longer continue to be a hidden crime that society sweeps under the carpets and hope it will go away.
We are encouraged by the several campaigns that have been responsible for the rise in the reported cases and together we can still do more.
One of the key contributing programmes for this increased levels of awareness has been the campaign for 16 days of activism to end violence against women and children. This campaign, which will enter its seventh year at the end of 2004, has been a resounding success in mobilizing society behind the fight to stop the abuse of women and children.
We have already registered several partners, ranging from NGOs, sports bodies, the media and private sector in making this campaign a success and we are sure the inclusion of this Centre will serve an important purpose. In fact it is the view of Government that through initiatives such as Ikhaya Lethemba, our country is able to take the fight against abuse beyond just 16 days in a year, to make it an all year everyday responsibility.
It is important that we acknowledge the foresight of MEC Mokonyane and her Department in spearheading the establishment of a centre such as this one. This foresight has recognized that in reality, it is currently difficult to monitor every household to ensure that women and children are not abused. While the law enforcement agencies are working hard to bring the perpetrators to book, there is also a need to address the plight of those who are already violated. We must also applaud the thoughtful selection of the name for the Centre, Ikhaya Lethemba. No other name can describe more adequately the essence of the Centre. It is indeed structured and conceptualised as a Centre of hope.
As our country celebrates its tenth anniversary since we acquired democracy, one of key elements in the progress registered so far, has been the emphasis of this government on issues of the protection of women and children. We have made no bones about the fact that society should reserve its harshest dislike for those who are sick enough to abuse our children and women both inside and outside of the home. To this end we have created a legislative framework that serves as a basis for a caring society that we envisage. This legislative framework finds its foundation in our Constitution and is given practical expression in several pieces of legislation that Parliament has passed, including the Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Offences Act, Child Care Act and the many international protocols we have ratified in the interest of the protection of women and children.
In my capacity as deputy Minister of Home Affairs, one of the responsibilities that I have is the regulation of matters governing the Films and Publications Board. We have just recently passed through Parliament, amendments to the Film and Publication Act aimed at ensuring that the state is given more space in bringing to book those who create, possess and distribute child pornography through the Internet, videos, interactive games and DVDs. During the passing of these amendments, we received a lot of criticism from some opposition parties because they felt that we were trampling on the rights of adult citizens to be creative in the fields of arts, cinematology and related research. One of the things that I have said then that I will also repeat here today is that, we do not think that it was the intention of our Constitution to give rights to sexual deviants to abuse our children. We believe that any limitation of the rights of an individual is justified if the reason is the protection of children from the sickness of society.
Before I conclude this input, I would like to re-emphasise that most of the achievements that we have made together in the past 10 years were only possible because women worked in unity. Without regard for political affiliation, race, religion and otherwise, the common pain that is felt by us all should bring women together to fight this scourge.
I am sure that we are still going to hear a lot of good things coming from the center here and we look forward to our own further involvement in making it a success. At a personal level, whenever it is possible to do so, I am available to lend a hand in some of the activities of the centre as a community worker.
I will end up with some of the wise that I have come to appreciate describing what the efforts of all of us has meant to the many destitute children that " If I leave this world, without much money, without a monument written in my name, I will find solace in the knowledge that I made a different in the life of one child". The feelings of the woman who said these words should also hold true to each one of the people who participated in setting up this Centre. You have done a splendid job.
Thank you
Enquiries:
Tel: (012) 314 8613
Issued by: Ministry of Home Affairs
19 March 2004
Source: Department of Home Affairs (http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/)
Source: Ministry of Home Affairs
Title: N Mapisa-Nqakula: Opening of Ikhaya Lethemba Centre for Victims of Domestic Abuse
ADDRESS BY NOSIVIWE MAPISA-NQAKULA, DEPUTY MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS, OFFICIAL OPENING OF IKHAYA LETHEMBA CENTRE FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE, Johannesburg, 19 March 2004
The reason for which we meet here today is ground breaking. For the first time in our fight to restore the dignity of women, Government will avail a fully equipped facility to create comfort for victims of domestic abuse.
It should be significant that we all meet here again only one week after we have wrapped up the celebrations of the International Women's day and the 50th anniversary of the adoption of the Women's Charter.
For its part, the women's charter had advocated for society to take seriously the social and security issues facing women of our country. 50 years on, we meet here to give practical expression to one of these ideals of the women's charter. Because one of the things that is foremost in the governance approach of our democratic state, is to ensure that the commitments that we have made through conventions such as the women's charter, should not only remain reference points in dusty records. They should find a way into our activities of programmes of implementation.
We are aware of the amount of time the department and its stakeholders have put into this work and that is the reason why when the invitation arrived at my desk we immediately thought that we have to come here and celebrate with you this achievement that will mean so much for victims of domestic abuse in Gauteng. It is an achievement that we are truly proud of, whose benefits we recognize in the fight to improve the lives of those sectors of our society that are vulnerable.
Recently, I have had a keen interest in case that had been brought before our Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. A woman who has been convicted in the lower court on a charge of murdering her husband is appealing this conviction on grounds that she is a victim of abuse.
I do not necessarily want to raise the legal merits of the law in this case. I am sure that our judges will be competent enough to adjudicate this case within the necessary legal parameters. For me there is a more serious social dynamic that needs to be addressed at a more broader level, even beyond just the boundaries of the law.
As reports of the case were being flighted on national television news day after day, my worry about women in this position also grew by the day. On the one hand we are dealing here with a woman who has taken somebody's life, something society scoffs upon. On the other hand there is also a real reality that when the very same society has failed to protect these women from the pain of abuse, what real recourse do they have, where do they run to?
A home is where everyone should have the reassurance of safety and care, but for these women it has been difficult to feel secure in their own homes and it simple to understand why they would be driven into these kinds of acts only to stay alive.
Society, and indeed us as a Government cannot just stand in the distance and point accusing fingers at these women when such crimes have occurred. The opening of this centre today is right at the core of our ability to do something in order to help those who are abused.
Even as we celebrate the maturity of our Women's Charter, we are aware that many women are still experiencing domestic abuse and public violence everyday. We are alive to the many socio-economic factors that contribute to the perpetuation of these violent crimes against women and children. This is a reality that many women across the world live with, even in some of our most advanced democracies. However I must acknowledge some of the positive steps that have been taken that lead us in the direction of hope here in South Africa.
Although it does not seem likely at face value, but it should be course for celebration that the statistics are showing an increase in the abuse of women. This is because the increase in the statistics shows that the growing number of women are breaking the silence and reporting these cases. The abuse of women can no longer continue to be a hidden crime that society sweeps under the carpets and hope it will go away.
We are encouraged by the several campaigns that have been responsible for the rise in the reported cases and together we can still do more.
One of the key contributing programmes for this increased levels of awareness has been the campaign for 16 days of activism to end violence against women and children. This campaign, which will enter its seventh year at the end of 2004, has been a resounding success in mobilizing society behind the fight to stop the abuse of women and children.
We have already registered several partners, ranging from NGOs, sports bodies, the media and private sector in making this campaign a success and we are sure the inclusion of this Centre will serve an important purpose. In fact it is the view of Government that through initiatives such as Ikhaya Lethemba, our country is able to take the fight against abuse beyond just 16 days in a year, to make it an all year everyday responsibility.
It is important that we acknowledge the foresight of MEC Mokonyane and her Department in spearheading the establishment of a centre such as this one. This foresight has recognized that in reality, it is currently difficult to monitor every household to ensure that women and children are not abused. While the law enforcement agencies are working hard to bring the perpetrators to book, there is also a need to address the plight of those who are already violated. We must also applaud the thoughtful selection of the name for the Centre, Ikhaya Lethemba. No other name can describe more adequately the essence of the Centre. It is indeed structured and conceptualised as a Centre of hope.
As our country celebrates its tenth anniversary since we acquired democracy, one of key elements in the progress registered so far, has been the emphasis of this government on issues of the protection of women and children. We have made no bones about the fact that society should reserve its harshest dislike for those who are sick enough to abuse our children and women both inside and outside of the home. To this end we have created a legislative framework that serves as a basis for a caring society that we envisage. This legislative framework finds its foundation in our Constitution and is given practical expression in several pieces of legislation that Parliament has passed, including the Domestic Violence Act, Sexual Offences Act, Child Care Act and the many international protocols we have ratified in the interest of the protection of women and children.
In my capacity as deputy Minister of Home Affairs, one of the responsibilities that I have is the regulation of matters governing the Films and Publications Board. We have just recently passed through Parliament, amendments to the Film and Publication Act aimed at ensuring that the state is given more space in bringing to book those who create, possess and distribute child pornography through the Internet, videos, interactive games and DVDs. During the passing of these amendments, we received a lot of criticism from some opposition parties because they felt that we were trampling on the rights of adult citizens to be creative in the fields of arts, cinematology and related research. One of the things that I have said then that I will also repeat here today is that, we do not think that it was the intention of our Constitution to give rights to sexual deviants to abuse our children. We believe that any limitation of the rights of an individual is justified if the reason is the protection of children from the sickness of society.
Before I conclude this input, I would like to re-emphasise that most of the achievements that we have made together in the past 10 years were only possible because women worked in unity. Without regard for political affiliation, race, religion and otherwise, the common pain that is felt by us all should bring women together to fight this scourge.
I am sure that we are still going to hear a lot of good things coming from the center here and we look forward to our own further involvement in making it a success. At a personal level, whenever it is possible to do so, I am available to lend a hand in some of the activities of the centre as a community worker.
I will end up with some of the wise that I have come to appreciate describing what the efforts of all of us has meant to the many destitute children that " If I leave this world, without much money, without a monument written in my name, I will find solace in the knowledge that I made a different in the life of one child". The feelings of the woman who said these words should also hold true to each one of the people who participated in setting up this Centre. You have done a splendid job.
Thank you
Enquiries:
Tel: (012) 314 8613
Issued by: Ministry of Home Affairs
19 March 2004
Source: Department of Home Affairs (http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/)
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
