It is that time of the year again when everybody from politicians to grassroots people will be talking about violence against women! I was chanced to visit one of the victim empowerment centres in Gauteng this week and I was surprised to find blood stained towels left by a survivor of domestic violence who had come to Police for help.
I was surprised because every year, South African NGOs, police, schools and several government departments mark the 16 Days of Activism with wonderful events, speeches, name it yet this social vice remains rife in our community. A study conducted by Gender Links reports that over half of the women in Gauteng have experienced some form of violence (emotional, economic, physical or sexual) in their lifetime. 75% of men in the province admit to perpetrating some form of violence against women.
With only three years to go until 2015 when the SADC Gender Protocol requires us to halve gender violence, we need personal commitments in our homes and work (and projects) to increase the visibility of women and eradicate GBV.
My thinking is, we must each come up with our ways albeit small to prevent violence against women? Consider what small actions you can take as an individual everyday so that you or your sisters, brothers and other loved ones, don’t add to the statistics whether as victims or perpetrators.
Here are wonderful websites you can visit for events happening during this period that you can participate in.
Government events: http://www.info.gov.za/events/
Gender Links: http://www.genderlinks.org.za/
Women’s Net: http://www.womensnet.org.za/
United Nations: http://endviolence.un.org/
For details about the 16 days of activism: http://tinyurl.com/d78v9vd
You can also download the Say no to violence screen saver on the United Nation’s website
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