Date: 08/12/04
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Title: Moloto: 16 Days of Activism campaign
Response by Mr Sello Moloto, Premier of Limpopo Province, on the occasion of 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, at the Chuene Holiday Resort
8 December 2004
Master of ceremonies Minister of Land affairs and other Cabinet members My colleagues in the provincial Executive Council MPs and MPLs Executive Mayors and Mayors of municipalities Chairperson of the House of Traditional, members and other traditional leaders present here Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen
16 Days of Activism against violence on women and children creates a platform for all of us who are concerned about domestic violence to create awareness around this evil, intensify the battle, and most, importantly reaffirm women and children as equal citizens in the land of their birth.
This programme should and continues to help raise awareness around gender-based violence as a human rights abuse, to ensure that survivors of violence are offered protection for those who can’t keep their hands to themselves and, more importantly, to work towards the total eradication of those who believe that the only way they can proof their manhood is by abusing defenceless women and children.
For many years this form of abuse and violence against women and children has destroyed moral and social fibre of our society, and the time has come to boldly confront this monster that continues to rear its ugly head in our society. We should break the silence and speak out against this social malady.
Master of ceremonies
The continued abuse of our people increases health costs, keeps people from showing up at work, prevents them from performing at their best, keeps children out of school, and often prevents them from learning. It destroys families, relationships and lives, and often prevents children from growing up to establish successful families of their own.
Abuse in all its ramified forms wounds the self-esteem of our children, makes them feel dirty, ashamed, disillusioned, disgruntled, and at worse, loose faith in themselves and other people in their immediate surrounding, particularly parents.
It is in fact a crime against humanity, and we should therefore work together towards its eradication from the face of society.
We must build a more comprehensive response to gender violence throughout our health care system by supporting and encouraging routine screening of domestic violence. Strengthening the legal framework, both at the international and national level, is obviously crucial. Nevertheless, we must know that the laws alone are not enough; we should all be seen in action enforcing such laws.
A respect and concern for human rights, including the rights of the child as well as equality between men and women must be at the core of a collective response to this anomaly.
We should act together to end this domestic violence that threatens too many of our families. It is only a dedicated, integrated and more inclusive approach involving partnerships with governments that can help bring about fundamental changes.
We must use and mobilise resources available at our disposal to defeat this scourge of human rights abuse that continues to manifest itself in our public life. We need to encourage more effective and imaginative approaches, for their protection, and above all develop policies and programmes that will make a difference.
It is also important that our education system should have as its centre-piece, education of the learners about the constitution, its Bill of Rights, and most importantly the implications and evils of women and child abuse.
Wherever we are, day-in-day-out, we should let our families, friends, and peers know that they can save themselves and save the nation, by changing the way we live and how we live. We should use every opportunity openly to discuss the issue of violence against women and children, let alone the danger other social illnesses pose to the social fibre and moral regeneration of an African.
The simple but practical action that we take today is tomorrow’s insurance for our nation.
There is no other time than now to take action against these heinous acts that seek to reverse the gains South African have scored over the past tens years of our freedom.
I Thank You
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo
Provincial Government
8 December 2004
Source: Limpopo Provincial Government
Title: Moloto: 16 Days of Activism campaign
Response by Mr Sello Moloto, Premier of Limpopo Province, on the occasion of 16 Days of Activism on No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, at the Chuene Holiday Resort
8 December 2004
Master of ceremonies Minister of Land affairs and other Cabinet members My colleagues in the provincial Executive Council MPs and MPLs Executive Mayors and Mayors of municipalities Chairperson of the House of Traditional, members and other traditional leaders present here Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen
16 Days of Activism against violence on women and children creates a platform for all of us who are concerned about domestic violence to create awareness around this evil, intensify the battle, and most, importantly reaffirm women and children as equal citizens in the land of their birth.
This programme should and continues to help raise awareness around gender-based violence as a human rights abuse, to ensure that survivors of violence are offered protection for those who can’t keep their hands to themselves and, more importantly, to work towards the total eradication of those who believe that the only way they can proof their manhood is by abusing defenceless women and children.
For many years this form of abuse and violence against women and children has destroyed moral and social fibre of our society, and the time has come to boldly confront this monster that continues to rear its ugly head in our society. We should break the silence and speak out against this social malady.
Master of ceremonies
The continued abuse of our people increases health costs, keeps people from showing up at work, prevents them from performing at their best, keeps children out of school, and often prevents them from learning. It destroys families, relationships and lives, and often prevents children from growing up to establish successful families of their own.
Abuse in all its ramified forms wounds the self-esteem of our children, makes them feel dirty, ashamed, disillusioned, disgruntled, and at worse, loose faith in themselves and other people in their immediate surrounding, particularly parents.
It is in fact a crime against humanity, and we should therefore work together towards its eradication from the face of society.
We must build a more comprehensive response to gender violence throughout our health care system by supporting and encouraging routine screening of domestic violence. Strengthening the legal framework, both at the international and national level, is obviously crucial. Nevertheless, we must know that the laws alone are not enough; we should all be seen in action enforcing such laws.
A respect and concern for human rights, including the rights of the child as well as equality between men and women must be at the core of a collective response to this anomaly.
We should act together to end this domestic violence that threatens too many of our families. It is only a dedicated, integrated and more inclusive approach involving partnerships with governments that can help bring about fundamental changes.
We must use and mobilise resources available at our disposal to defeat this scourge of human rights abuse that continues to manifest itself in our public life. We need to encourage more effective and imaginative approaches, for their protection, and above all develop policies and programmes that will make a difference.
It is also important that our education system should have as its centre-piece, education of the learners about the constitution, its Bill of Rights, and most importantly the implications and evils of women and child abuse.
Wherever we are, day-in-day-out, we should let our families, friends, and peers know that they can save themselves and save the nation, by changing the way we live and how we live. We should use every opportunity openly to discuss the issue of violence against women and children, let alone the danger other social illnesses pose to the social fibre and moral regeneration of an African.
The simple but practical action that we take today is tomorrow’s insurance for our nation.
There is no other time than now to take action against these heinous acts that seek to reverse the gains South African have scored over the past tens years of our freedom.
I Thank You
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Limpopo
Provincial Government
8 December 2004
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