Date: 22/11/2008

Source: The Presidency

Title: SA: Mbete: Address by the Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa at the opening ceremony of the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence against Women and Children Campaign

Programme director
Deputy Minister of Provincial and Local Government, Ms Nomatyala Hangana
Deputy Minister of Safety and Security, Ms Susan Shabangu
Premier of the Western Cape, Ms Lynne Brown
Members of Executive Council (MECs) present
Ladies and gentlemen
Fellow South Africans

Molweni! Goeiedag!

It is an honour to take part in this important occasion, which in my view should be held throughout the year so that as a nation we devise and implement better ways of fighting women and children abuse. To the community of Beaufort West I thank you for joining us as we launch this support the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign.

By being here you join the rest of South Africa which endorses the theme of this Campaign which says "Don't Look Away Act against Abuse". Reference to personal experience of a woman victim of the "looking away syndrome."

As this campaign enters its ninth (9) year, we must celebrate the achievements that it has made to encourage victims of gender based violence to speak out and join the National Convener for the Campaign, Deputy Minister Hangana, to "focus on publicising and celebrating the legacy."

Our hard won freedom obliges all of us, as government, civil society, labour and business to create an environment that empowers and affirms women's and children's rights. I do not have to tell you that not to be abused is a basic human right. We are compelled to act against abuse in our homes, at work, in schools, and in our communities simply because every woman, every girl child and boy child has a right to live free from violence, threats of violence and all forms of abuse.

All that women and children need and are entitled to is love, care, nurture and compassion.

I also take this opportunity to say we are proud of all the survivors of abuse and violence. We wish to convey to them that their stories inspire and motivate all of us, especially those who are still afraid to name and shame their abusers.

Refer (in Xhosa) to the phenomenon, among women, of fear of speaking out.

This is a reason I urge and encourage all of us to actively support
this campaign through these measures,

* Wearing the white ribbon during the 16 day period to symbolise that we will never commit or condone violence against women and children.
* Volunteer in support of non-governmental organisation (NGOs) and community groups that support abused women and children.
* Volunteer your time to help plant a garden at a shelter or join an organisation as a counsellor.
* Encourage silent women victims to challenge abuse and ensure that they get help.
* Join your local policing forum (CPF) to help bring effective crime prevention.

Working together, our goal is to build a society that is free for women and children to live in. In this beautiful country, there must never be a province, city, township or village where women and children live in fear and helplessness because there is no support for them.

In 1996 during Women's day celebrations, Tata Mandela said, I quote, "We know that the criminals, including those who abuse women, depend on people around them, women as well as men, keeping silent even though they reject what they are doing. The time has come to speak up and expose the criminals."

Reference (in Xhosa) to take responsibility to expose criminals who abuse women and children in your neighbourhood, it might be your next door neighbour or even someone in your own family.

As we call on all sectors of our society to help those affected by violence or abuse, it is important to mention that the victims themselves can be their own liberators. The success of the campaign against women and child abuse relies on the victims themselves and their families to expose the perpetrators.

I call upon women and children to be brave and bold and stand up for their rights. It is sad that in some instances we keep quiet because we are afraid we will lose the financial support of our abusive husbands and partners.

Let there be no mistake, abuse is abuse and it can never be right and neither can it be justified! 'n ware man sal nie 'n vrou of 'n kind mishandel nie! Our fathers, husbands and brothers must respect women and children if they do not want to face the full might of the law. The simple fact is that abusers do not belong in our homes and communities, they belong in jail.

As a society, we must work hard to promote a positive moral fibre that values the elderly, the disabled and those who are vulnerable. It is our role and responsibility to create safe and peaceful environments in our communities.

Let us say in one voice, enough is enough! All of us have to be whistle-blowers against those who abuse our children and thereby rob us of our future.

I encourage you to join this campaign and Minister Hangana in her vision of "taking the campaign to the people at grassroots level," to generate awareness about the negative impact that violence has on women and children and the society at large. Furthermore, this campaign highlights the abuse of women in rural areas and in farming communities who are still subjected to illegal working conditions.

I am pleased to announce that the Department of Labour is attending to these matters ensuring that all employers comply with the legislation of ensuring that farm workers, like all other employees, are entitled to a minimum wage, proper working hours and are entitled to leave days.

I am informed that the Farm Workers Awareness Programmes have already been conducted in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the North West to educate workers in these areas about their rights.

It is my belief that these awareness programmes will be extended to other provinces so that farm workers in the entire country are educated about their rights. Nevertheless, poverty still remains the biggest enemy that confronts the majority of our women and children. I believe this is largely due to lack of employment opportunities for women, especially for those in rural areas.

As government, some of the practical steps we have taken to empower women and young people include:

* ensuring enterprises owned or co-owned by women are supported through information and are favoured to do business with government
* channel resources to ensure that every child has access to basic education
* disperse and distribute grants to qualifying children for their proper development, and
* implement feeding schemes at schools to ensure children receive their lessons in a good mental and physical state.

In conclusion, I want to thank all the stakeholders who have partnered with government to ensure that this campaign runs throughout the year as part of the 365 Days Programme and National Action Plan. Most importantly, we must thank those responsible men and boys in our families and communities who continue to respect and protect women and children.

As you know, real men do not abuse their wives and children! Real men "Don't Look away (but) Act Against Abuse".

We acknowledge that there are many men who serve as positive role-models to their boy-children. Their exemplary conduct will help our boy children to become real men in future.

As parents, we must keep on teaching our boy children to respect their sisters, mothers and grandmothers. Indoda yoqobo yindoda engahlukumezi abafazi.

Let us join hands and work together in promoting and protecting the rights of women and children.

Enkosi!