Date: 10/12/2008

Source: The Presidency

Title: SA: Motlanthe: Speech by the President of South Africa, on the occasion of the 16 Days of no Violence against Women and Children closing ceremony

Honourable Ministers and Deputy Ministers
Eastern Cape Premier, Mbulelo Sogoni
All Members of Executive Council (MECs) present
Esteemed Members of Parliament and Provincial Legislatures
Honourable Mayors and Councillors
Leaders of our traditional institutions
Religious leaders from different faiths and denominations
Representatives of the business sector
Partners and ambassadors of the16 Days Campaign
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I am honoured to address you today, the 10th of December 2008, an eminent occasion marking the end of the international and national campaign of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, which commenced on the 25th of November 2008. Since the inception of the democratic government in 1994 we as government have expressly committed ourselves to a society free of all forms of discrimination, violence, fear, abuse and oppression.

Accordingly, in 1999 we formally joined the global campaign of the 16 Days of Activism to eliminate gender based violence. The 16 Days of Activism campaign is a United Nations-endorsed initiative and therefore a global campaign that seeks to raise global consciousness on the epidemic of gender and child violence besetting society.

Permeating all societal sectors across nations, this awareness is intended to rouse all of us to purposive action, the better to eradicate this plague and further cure society of its negative effects. When government signed up to this United Nations (UN) led initiative, it was driven by the need to advance towards achieving the goal of a non sexist society, where people would be treated with respect and dignity irrespective of their gender. At that point we made a conscious decision to extend this campaign beyond fighting the abuse of women, but also to focus on the scourge of abuse and violence against the future of this country, our children.

Today we know that thousands of human rights activists, hundreds of non-governmental and community-based organisations world-wide, our traditional leadership institutions, various governments across all continents, ordinary workers and business leaders, the religious community, professionals, the young and the elderly across the globe have re-committed themselves to this campaign to free our women and children from intimidation, abuse and violence.

In South Africa we have primarily focused this campaign on increasing ordinary people's awareness of this plague that has gripped our homes, schools, playgrounds, parks, places of worship and work. It is a regrettable fact that the majority of perpetrators of gender-based violence are men.

In South Africa we are told the following:
* More than a third of reported rape victims were under the age of 17
* One in two women have a chance of being raped in their lifetime
* More than 40% of perpetrators are known to the rape survivor
* Children are victims of 41% of all rapes and attempted rapes in the country
* A child is abused every eight minutes in SA and
* 85 to 90% of perpetrators are known to the child.

With this disturbing picture in mind, it is worth noting some of the key interventions that we have undertaken under the leadership of the 16 Days campaign in this country over the last few years:

* We have gone to the deepest rural and farmlands of our country to speak to rural women and men and farm workers about the campaign.
* Thousands of people have worn white ribbons as a symbol of peace to publicly show support for the campaign.
* We have gone to the boardrooms of big business and the major corporate players in the country.
* We have hosted dinners and gala events to mobilise support and sponsorships.
* With the support of the South African Post Office, we have signed thousands of postcards to pledge our commitment.
* We have gone to churches and interacted with many religious communities to pass the message.
* We have used the internet, chat rooms and cell phone technology to raise awareness of the campaign.
* We have used television, newspapers, magazines, billboards and pamphlets.
* Last year we took to the streets across the country in our thousands in a Millions Men's March to voice of support for the campaign.
* This year, in 2008, we initiated a social drama production, titled "Don't Look Away" that toured the country to engage our people.

Ladies and gentlemen
Today, we must commit ourselves as a country, as men and women, boys and girls, the young and the old, as city and rural dwellers to open a new chapter in South Africa's history. This new era must place our women and the young as equal human beings and citizens that will receive the full respect and support to live freely in all areas of South African life.

In 1994 we destroyed the edifice of apartheid, in 2009 and beyond we must destroy the cancer of abuse of our women and children. This will require the combined efforts of men and women, boys and girls, learners, teachers, parents and family members, workers and managers, government and all sectors of our society. It is especially important that we continue to work hard in our bid to solidify the current partnerships between government, the non-governmental organisations, and community based organisations as well as the private sector.

We need to ensure that we preserve and build on the work that has been done since the launch of the South African campaign in 1999. We need to remind our people that the abuse and ill-treatment of women and children constitutes a denial of fundamental human rights and a violation of our Constitution that many patriots and democrats have paid the ultimate sacrifice for.

We need to build greater awareness of the many laws and policies that we have introduced since 1994 to forge gender equity and freedom for all. The onus is now upon us to ensure that these laws are worth the paper they are written on.

We must all assume the duties of being educators to those who are refusing to see the light as well as those who do not have sufficient information. All of us must also assume the role of a defender and campaigner for human rights. We need to challenge the abusers and tell them clearly that abuse is a crime as it violates the rights of others.

Chairperson
The task of building a truly caring and non-sexist society is a mammoth, but achievable, one. The 16 Days of Activism Campaign has focused our attention on key inter related challenges facing us in the 21st century. On the 1st of December we stood still as a nation to take stock of the HIV and AIDS pandemic that confronts our country.

As a government we committed ourselves to do everything possible to prevent the spread of the human immunodeficiency (HI) virus and to provide the most humane and effective support to those suffering from HIV and AIDS.

Today, the 10th of December 2008 is International Human Rights Day. It is appropriate that the 16 Days of Activism concludes on this day that should remind us of the fundamental inalienable human rights that all of us have regardless of gender, age, religious conviction, sexual preference, class or social status.

Abuse and maltreatment of our women and children is a human rights issue. Neglect for those infected with HIV and those suffering from AIDS are a human rights issue. Discrimination against any person based on gender, age, religion or any medical condition like HIV and AIDS is a human rights issue.

Today I want to call on all South Africans and people in our country to make the 16 Days of Activism of No Violence against Women and Children Campaign a 365 day campaign that we will wage every minute, every hour, and every day during 2009.

It is this kind of vigilance that will secure our future and vision of a non-racial, non-sexist South Africa, where all will be free of violence and all forms of discrimination and inequality.

In conclusion, we need to express our sincere thanks to the national Convenor of the 16 Days Campaign Convener, Ms Nomatyala Hangana, the Deputy Minister for Provincial and Local Government, for the outstanding work that she has undertaken with her team in providing leadership for this campaign over the last few years.

In this regard, let me also take this opportunity to wish everyone present here and your families an enjoyable and relaxing festive season.

Let us re-commit ourselves to supporting the vulnerable wherever we find ourselves and pledge to act on the 16 Days of Activism slogan, "Don't Look Away, Act against Abuse".

I thank you.