Issued by: Government Communications (GCIS)
Violence against women has reached endemic proportion in South Africa. It is estimated that one out of every four women in South Africa are victims of domestic violence. Violence against women is a community problem which needs to be addressed at all levels of society. 25 November marks the beginning of a series of actions aimed at redressing violence against women, these actions will run during the 16 days of activism to end violence against women, culminating on 10 December 1998. These actions or themes are drawn from the SADC Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women Addendum to the Declaration for Gender and Development adopted at the SADC Summit in Mauritius on 14 September 1998.
The whole day on Wednesday, 25 November 1998 is devoted to a National Conference of Commitments to the SADC Addendum. The proceedings begin at 08:30 on the grounds of the Union Buildings. The keynote speech will be by President Mandela at 10:00. The proceedings come to an end at 16:00
A press conference will be held on Wednesday, 25 November 1998 at 11:00, R153, Union Building, West Wing, Pretoria. The press conference will be hosted by the Deputy Minister of Justice, Dr ME Tshabalala-Msimang, the Gender Commission and the Human Rights Commission's National Action Plan Committee.
The aim of the press conference is to inform the media about the 16 days of activism leading up to 10 December 1998 which marks the 50th Anniversary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights. The main theme of the conference will be No Violence Against Women.
Contact persons: Faizal Dawjee: (012) 314-2133 (office hours) 083 254 2923 (after hours) Petra Wiese: (012) 314-2452 (office hours) 082 565 8062 (after hours)
Issued by the Government Communication and Information System (GCIS)