Pretoria - Civil society groups are fighting xenophobia and violence in a unique way - one signature at a time.
The groups have launched a campaign to collect one million signed pledges against xenophobia, intolerance, intimidation and violence in South Africa.
The Scalabrini Centre and People Against Suffering, Suppression, Oppression and Poverty -which are organisations that assist refugees and asylum seekers - together with Black Sash, an organisation that assists the public on the legal front, and gender and human rights group Sonke Gender Justice Network, are the driving forces behind the Unite as One Campaign.
The nation-wide campaign kicked off in Cape Town on Mandela Day, 18 July, and will run until African Human Rights Day on 17 October.
Black Sash Advocacy Programme Manager Nkosikhulule Nyembezi said the campaign hoped to build on the incredible sense of African unity experienced during the World Cup.
"We have proved we are a winning nation who can achieve anything if we work together. Now we must work to win human dignity and protection for all those who seek shelter in our land," Nyembezi added.
A website - www.uniteasone.org.za - and a facebook page - http://www.facebook.com/unite.as.one - have been set up. The public can sign the pledge online or download copies and circulate among them their friends and colleagues.
It is hoped that once people sign the pledge they will feel compelled to report acts of violence or intimidation against foreign nationals.
