Mahikeng-A concerted effort is required to promote the reach of the 16 days of activism on no violence against women and children campaign to rural areas, Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Lulu Xingwana said in launching the 16 Days of activism on no violence against women, children and people with disabilities in partnership with North West Premier Thandi Modise in Mahikeng on Sunday.
Minister Xingwana said that while the country has made significant progress in putting in place legislation, policies and other measures for advancing equality and empowerment of women, children and people with disabilities, those most severely affected by violence in rural communities may not be aware of the resources and services available to them to help them cope with their circumstances.
Xingwana said that this year’s campaign launched under the theme “Vikela Mzansi – Kwanele! Communities united in preventing violence against women and children, also seeks to address issues that affect vulnerable groups including women, girls and boys, Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans-Sexual and Intra-Sexual communities and people with disabilities.
“We believe that the unacceptably high levels of gender-based violence require the collective efforts of all South Africans. The violence takes different forms such as sexual harassment, abuse, brutal assaults, rape and brutal murders,” the Minister in expressing support for the North West Province’s one million anti-rape signature campaign.
Premier Thandi Modise told the over ten thousand people who attended the launch ceremony that the province will be intensifying the provincial initiative because violence against women is a serious human rights issue with significant social and economic implications for fighting poverty.
“As we approach the third decade of democratic governance, we should reassure all South African women and children that we will spare no effort in realising their dreams as well as the steadfastness of the women movement to build a better life for all which is envisaged in the constitution,” said Premier Modise.
The Premier said that the province is mobilising women organizations in other provinces to support for its proposed chemical castration for repeat rapists in order to petition the national government for a policy change.
“We know that we are being told of the human rights of the perpetrators. We are more concerned about the non-lives of the victims of rape. We are more concerned about the taking away of the souls of the victims of rape. We are more concerned about women who take their lives after being rape. We see no reason why the human rights of a rapist must be above the human right of a victim, “emphasised Modise.
Speaking on behalf of UN Women Dr Sadiq Syed thanked the South African Government for its continued support to the UN Women and for its effort in ending violence against women and girls.
“The lives of millions of women and girls have improved due to the continual contribution and the efforts of the government of South Africa. However, much needs to be done to protect and realise fully the rights of women,” said Syed.
One of the rape survivors, who has written a book about her harrowing experience, encouraged rape survivors to report and speak about their ordeal as a way to deal with their traumatic experience.
“Rape invades your emotion and physical being, but the emotional and mental state are by far the most difficult to heal. It has crossed the gender line because even boys are being raped,” said Kentse Badirwang.
Badirwang, whose book, “Kattie’s Arrow: Cruel Journey to her purpose” is in press, said there must be continues dialogue and action every day, not only when a horrific incident has happened or on strategic dates.
Earlier in the day Minister Xingwana accompanied by Premier Modise, the Provincial Chairperson of the Progressive Women’s Movement and Member of Parliament , Jane Manganye visited a 33 year-old Majemantsho mother of four who was gang raped by seven men that have not yet been arrested as police were allegedly unresponsive to her distress call.
The government representatives undertook to get to the bottom of the matter to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book and that justice prevails.
Messages of support were also delivered by the Chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leadership, Professor Kgosi Madoda Zibi, representatives of Progressive Women’s Movement, Disabled People South Africa, Disabled People South Africa, Commission on Gender Equality, People Opposing Women Abuse, Sonke Gender Justice, the National Council Against Gender Based Violence and the Provincial Chapter of the National Interfaith Council of South Africa.-TDN
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