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The 25th November to the 10th December marks the 16 Days of activism against violence and abuse directed against women and children. The SACP calls on all in society, to observe the 16 days of activism which we have said as the SACP must be observed all year round.

Violence and abuse against women and children must be understood within a broad context of social ills that are bred and made possible by a system of capitalism that places money above human beings and their needs. Whilst much progress has been made by our law enforcement agencies in fighting crime directed at women and children, muchmore needs to be done.

One of the issues we need to highlight during the campaign is the rising violence against gay and lesbians. Society must be educated to respect and accept choices of other citizens no matter how different they are.

As part of our 2011 Red October campaign the SACP is taking up the challenges facing the girl-child at schools, including the struggle of girl abuse by teachers, as well as to take the challenge tocurb teenage pregnancy. During this Campaign we are also mobilizing rural women as the main force for rural development, including the fight against the silent suffering of rural women against all forms of women and children’s abuse and violence especially in some of the white owned commercial farms.

As part of the SACP’s contribution to this campaign, the Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities has been invited to address our Augmented Central Committee, which will emerge with a thoroughgoing programme to fight these social ills.