Pretoria – This year’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign will be taking a new approach which will see government participating in a series of dialogues with community members.
The 16 Days campaign will be launched on 25 November 2016, under the theme: “Count Me In: Together Moving a Non-Violent South Africa Forward”, to encourage South Africans to act for a safer society for women and children.
Government will during the 16 Days campaign convene national dialogues in all district municipalities to bring the scourge of violence against women and children to the fore. It is an opportunity for the community to share personal stories and find collective solutions to end the violence and abuse.
Briefing the media on the state of readiness for the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign, and the National Dialogues, Minister of Women, Susan Shabangu, said the dialogues will not only engage with women, but also with men’s organisations.
“Sessions will be held separately with women and men to allow them to participate more freely. They will then be brought together because we think it’s important to bring the men because there’s violence because of them…but mainly it is about how we deal with that and how do we change the mind-set,” said Minister Shabangu.
She said government will be working with men’s organisations like Sonke Gender Justice.
“Sonke Gender Justice has also made a commitment to work with us, but also remain on a continuous basis in mobilising and doing a lot of public awareness amongst men,” said Minister Shabangu.
The dialogues will also include public education and help raise awareness. Furthermore, it will help government assess the responsiveness of the Criminal Justice System.
The dialogue sessions respond to the National Development Plan Vision for 2030, which emphasises “building safer communities through an integrated approach”.
It also responds to several outcomes identified in the Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) 2014 – 2019.
Minister Shabangu said it is important that the 16 Days campaign is not viewed as a stand-alone event.
“It is another leg of the #356DaysCampaign and #CountMeIn, which aims to mobilise members of society, especially men to join hands with government against child and women abuse. The voices of men are crucial in the fight against violence and abuse.”
The 16 Days of Activism and national dialogues will be launched at Lebowakgomo in Limpopo. – SAnews.gov.za
