Pretoria - The United States Mission to South Africa has organised a number of anti-violence awareness activities in support of the country's drive to end gender-based violence.
In observing the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, which is observed between 25 November and 10 December, the US Mission is supporting a number of initiatives including a performance by American actor Antonio David Lyons, who will be performing 'We Are Here', a one-man play challenging stereotypes that men are perpetrators of violence and abuse.
The production, which is supported by the US Consulate in Johannesburg, will run from 25 to 30 November 2010 at the Johannesburg Theatre.
From 28 November to 7 December, US Minister in the United Church of Christ and founder of FaithTrust Institute, Rev Dr Marie Fortune will be taking part in discussions on the role of faith and community leaders in ending gender violence. The events will be held in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
The US Embassy Pretoria's Political Working Group will on 2 December 2010 host a meeting focused on gender-based violence. The embassy is inviting panelists from civil society and government to address questions concerning the causes of gender violence in South Africa and strategies for eliminating it.
The USAID also funds a number of projects aiming to root out gender based violence, the projects include Brothers for Life, which aims to reduce violence by encouraging changes in gender norms and personal behaviour.
Another project is the Greater Rape Intervention Project, which operates 26 facilities in Mpumalanga province and offers services to survivors of rape and abuse, many of them children from communities with minimal infrastructure and police protection.
The Centre for Disease Control and prevention South Africa and US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief are also collaborating with the South African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union and the South African Democratic Teachers' Union to raise awareness of the connection between gender violence and HIV transmission through a workplace campaign.
Today, the South African government will have a media launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign.
The 16 Days of Activism Campaign on No Violence against Women is an international initiative endorsed by the United Nations. This campaign focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children as well as society as a whole.
The year 2010 marks the eleventh anniversary of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign for No Violence against Women and Children in South Africa. The campaign has served as the main social mobilisation tool against the prevalence of acts of abuse against women and children in South Africa.
The launch will be led by the Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities, Ms Lulu Xingwana supported by Ministers in the Social and Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Clusters. The launch will also be attended by leaders of civil society organisations and senior government officials.
