Date: 28/11/2003
Source: Ministry of Social Development
Title: Skweyiya: Official launch of the Open Disclosure Centre
ADDRESS BY DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA, THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE OPEN DISCLOSURE CENTRE, Johannesburg, 28 November 2003
Programme Director,
MECs,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The launch of the Open Disclosure Centre, which provides support and assistance to women and children who have survived rape and other forms of sexual assault, is an occasion to acknowledge the many community leaders and role models in our midst who are forging an effective social movement on this issue among the various social actors in our society.
The every day expressions of solidarity and the increasing mobilisation of all our people against violence against women and children are testimony of our national commitment to respect human rights in general and uphold the rights of women and children in particular.
Our unity in and commitment to the common cause of no violence against women and children is self evident in the strategic partnership between civil society, the media, the private sector, organised labour, government and the diplomatic community that has made possible the launch of the Open Disclosure Centre.
It is an honour to share a platform with leaders of the calibre of Andile Gaelesiwe. Amaqhawekazi afana no Ms Gaeleshiwe, are role models to our children and the youth. Through your own wounds and suffering, through your humanity and strength of character you are healing the individuals, families and communities in our society.
The thousands of social service professionals who toil with pride in the trenches of social development are heartened by the fact that a leader of the calibre of Andile Gaelesiwe works as the head of Yfm's social desk. This fact highlights the reality that our project to build a society based on fundamental human rights, social justice and democratic values is deeply entrenched and making significant progress.
Too often we forget to acknowledge the progressive and substantial role played by the media in the moral regeneration and social development of our nation. Today is not one of those days, and we applaud the media for their significant contributions.
In addition, to celebrate the launch of the Open Disclosure Centre is to simultaneously acknowledge the sterling work of the Open Disclosure Foundation. The government appreciates the work that is done by the various formations in civil society and is committed to providing technical and financial support to the non-governmental organizations. In this regard we call upon the Southern African Grantmaker's Association to work more closely with government in addressing the social agenda of our nation.
The establishment of the Open Disclosure Centre derives from the fact that most of the crimes of rape and sexual assault committed against women and children take place within what is supposed to be a safe haven -- their own homes. Further, these crimes are committed by perpetrators who are well known to them. It is therefore vital that families, relatives and neighbours resume their social responsibility and take responsible actions to prevent and address these crimes.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, various men's marches have been held to express solidarity and isolate perpetrators. It is encouraging to see more men joining women and becoming part of the solution. We are a people that can bear testimony to the power of individual and collective acts of solidarity in bringing about social transformation.
These personal convictions and the agency of collective solidarity are also a prerequisite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The links between acts of violence against women and children and the vulnerability of women and children to HIV/AIDS are clear. The government has always acted on the understanding that HIV and AIDS confront our country with an urgent and present challenge to our social institutions, our human resources and the reconstruction and development of our society. We have to work in concert in support of government's comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS.
More specifically, we all need to protect our women and children and begin to adopt an attitude of zero tolerance to the rape, beatings and abuse of women and children.
Government has since put in place various policies, legislation and programmes to address this challenge. The National Crime Prevention Strategy; the Victim Empowerment Programme; the Domestic Violence Act and the National Anti-Rape Strategy, are just some examples of areas in which resolute action and public resources are continuing to be re- directed.
In this regard, on the 2nd of December 2003, my Department will be officially launch two important initiative -- the National Resource Directory for Victims of Violence and the Strategy for Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence.
The directory is one of the prerequisites for promoting the accessibility of services to victims. It is a database for services that are available in each province throughout the country as well as an indication of the minimum standards of service provision expected from service providers to victims. This information will be updated every year to capture the newly established services and to remove the non-functional services.
The strategy for shelters serves as a framework for the establishment and management of the centres and ensures that services are provided in accordance with the prescribed minimum standards. The safety and protection of women and their children cannot be promoted if they have nowhere else to go except to be under the same roof with the perpetrator.
Chairperson, these particular initiatives and other initiatives sustained by collective civil action, must be seen in the light of our enduring commitment to respect human rights in general and uphold the rights of women and children in particular. The respect, protection, promotion and fulfilment of the rights in the Bill of Rights are a constitutional imperative. It is because of this that we are signatory and committed to various International Declarations on promotion and protection of rights of children and women. We are signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against women.
Our ability to give effect to these conventions and declarations is dependent upon the integrity of our partnerships and the close collaboration between civil society organisations and government. It is also dependent upon the independent ability of civil society organisations to act as pressure groups that monitor the delivery of services to the most vulnerable members of our society. Voice and accountability are key indicators of the progress civil society and government have made during ten years of democracy.
Chairperson, the partnerships that are be re-invigorated during the 16 Days of Activism campaign this year must be sustained as the topical foci of our efforts are inter-linked. Next year we will be observing the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family. The prevention of violence against women and children, especially domestic violence, is key to moral regeneration and to the strengthening of family life. This is just one example of why we must sustain our cross-sector partnerships.
In conclusion, allow me to reiterate. The rights of women and children are human rights. They are inalienable from, integral to and indivisible from our national human rights framework. Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual exploitation are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated.
I thank you.
For more information contact: Mbulelo Musi, Tel: 27-12-312-7654, Cell: 082-904-3395, Fax: 2-12-312-7943
E-mail: Mbulelo.Musi@socdev.gov.za
Issued by Ministry of Social Development, 28 November 2003
Source: Ministry of Social Development
Title: Skweyiya: Official launch of the Open Disclosure Centre
ADDRESS BY DR ZOLA SKWEYIYA, THE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT, AT THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE OPEN DISCLOSURE CENTRE, Johannesburg, 28 November 2003
Programme Director,
MECs,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The launch of the Open Disclosure Centre, which provides support and assistance to women and children who have survived rape and other forms of sexual assault, is an occasion to acknowledge the many community leaders and role models in our midst who are forging an effective social movement on this issue among the various social actors in our society.
The every day expressions of solidarity and the increasing mobilisation of all our people against violence against women and children are testimony of our national commitment to respect human rights in general and uphold the rights of women and children in particular.
Our unity in and commitment to the common cause of no violence against women and children is self evident in the strategic partnership between civil society, the media, the private sector, organised labour, government and the diplomatic community that has made possible the launch of the Open Disclosure Centre.
It is an honour to share a platform with leaders of the calibre of Andile Gaelesiwe. Amaqhawekazi afana no Ms Gaeleshiwe, are role models to our children and the youth. Through your own wounds and suffering, through your humanity and strength of character you are healing the individuals, families and communities in our society.
The thousands of social service professionals who toil with pride in the trenches of social development are heartened by the fact that a leader of the calibre of Andile Gaelesiwe works as the head of Yfm's social desk. This fact highlights the reality that our project to build a society based on fundamental human rights, social justice and democratic values is deeply entrenched and making significant progress.
Too often we forget to acknowledge the progressive and substantial role played by the media in the moral regeneration and social development of our nation. Today is not one of those days, and we applaud the media for their significant contributions.
In addition, to celebrate the launch of the Open Disclosure Centre is to simultaneously acknowledge the sterling work of the Open Disclosure Foundation. The government appreciates the work that is done by the various formations in civil society and is committed to providing technical and financial support to the non-governmental organizations. In this regard we call upon the Southern African Grantmaker's Association to work more closely with government in addressing the social agenda of our nation.
The establishment of the Open Disclosure Centre derives from the fact that most of the crimes of rape and sexual assault committed against women and children take place within what is supposed to be a safe haven -- their own homes. Further, these crimes are committed by perpetrators who are well known to them. It is therefore vital that families, relatives and neighbours resume their social responsibility and take responsible actions to prevent and address these crimes.
As part of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children, various men's marches have been held to express solidarity and isolate perpetrators. It is encouraging to see more men joining women and becoming part of the solution. We are a people that can bear testimony to the power of individual and collective acts of solidarity in bringing about social transformation.
These personal convictions and the agency of collective solidarity are also a prerequisite in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The links between acts of violence against women and children and the vulnerability of women and children to HIV/AIDS are clear. The government has always acted on the understanding that HIV and AIDS confront our country with an urgent and present challenge to our social institutions, our human resources and the reconstruction and development of our society. We have to work in concert in support of government's comprehensive approach to HIV and AIDS.
More specifically, we all need to protect our women and children and begin to adopt an attitude of zero tolerance to the rape, beatings and abuse of women and children.
Government has since put in place various policies, legislation and programmes to address this challenge. The National Crime Prevention Strategy; the Victim Empowerment Programme; the Domestic Violence Act and the National Anti-Rape Strategy, are just some examples of areas in which resolute action and public resources are continuing to be re- directed.
In this regard, on the 2nd of December 2003, my Department will be officially launch two important initiative -- the National Resource Directory for Victims of Violence and the Strategy for Shelters for Victims of Domestic Violence.
The directory is one of the prerequisites for promoting the accessibility of services to victims. It is a database for services that are available in each province throughout the country as well as an indication of the minimum standards of service provision expected from service providers to victims. This information will be updated every year to capture the newly established services and to remove the non-functional services.
The strategy for shelters serves as a framework for the establishment and management of the centres and ensures that services are provided in accordance with the prescribed minimum standards. The safety and protection of women and their children cannot be promoted if they have nowhere else to go except to be under the same roof with the perpetrator.
Chairperson, these particular initiatives and other initiatives sustained by collective civil action, must be seen in the light of our enduring commitment to respect human rights in general and uphold the rights of women and children in particular. The respect, protection, promotion and fulfilment of the rights in the Bill of Rights are a constitutional imperative. It is because of this that we are signatory and committed to various International Declarations on promotion and protection of rights of children and women. We are signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW); and the Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against women.
Our ability to give effect to these conventions and declarations is dependent upon the integrity of our partnerships and the close collaboration between civil society organisations and government. It is also dependent upon the independent ability of civil society organisations to act as pressure groups that monitor the delivery of services to the most vulnerable members of our society. Voice and accountability are key indicators of the progress civil society and government have made during ten years of democracy.
Chairperson, the partnerships that are be re-invigorated during the 16 Days of Activism campaign this year must be sustained as the topical foci of our efforts are inter-linked. Next year we will be observing the 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Family. The prevention of violence against women and children, especially domestic violence, is key to moral regeneration and to the strengthening of family life. This is just one example of why we must sustain our cross-sector partnerships.
In conclusion, allow me to reiterate. The rights of women and children are human rights. They are inalienable from, integral to and indivisible from our national human rights framework. Gender-based violence and all forms of sexual exploitation are incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated.
I thank you.
For more information contact: Mbulelo Musi, Tel: 27-12-312-7654, Cell: 082-904-3395, Fax: 2-12-312-7943
E-mail: Mbulelo.Musi@socdev.gov.za
Issued by Ministry of Social Development, 28 November 2003
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