Gender violence highlighted

There will be a series of events over the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, starting with a Taking Back the Night march.
A SERIES of awareness campaigns and activities are planned for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, with special attention paid to crimes against lesbians.

16 Days of ActivismJoburg’s observance of the annual international campaign, which runs from 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – to 10 December, will begin in Alexandra. Here, about 500 people are expected to take part in a Taking Back the Night march.

The march, which is held to reclaim the right to be safe in all places at all times, will go through Alex hotspots that are known to be unsafe for women and children.

According to Selaelo Anna Mohajane, the manager of women’s development in Region E, the march is an annual event. Women and men in cities across southern Africa walk down streets that they believe are ridden with crime and gender violence.

On the second last day of 16 Days, 9 December, the focus will be on the crime that has come to be known as “corrective rape”. In this crime, the victims are lesbians whom the rapists claim to be curing or turning straight through rape.

According to Mohajane, “corrective rape” is becoming a common criminal practice, and lesbians are sometimes raped under the direction of members of their families.

Crime
On the day, various municipal-owned entities, such as health and social development, City Parks and City Power, will take a stand against corrective rape by gathering at the Metro Centre to develop a plan of action to stop the crime.

The last day of the campaign falls on 10 December, which is International Human Rights Day. The 16 days includes 1 December, which is World Aids Day.

On the final day, five women from each region who have played a significant role in promoting recognition for and respect of women’s rights will be profiled. The event will be held at Constitution Hill.

16 Days of Activism
From 25 November to 10 December, the City is hosting educational senimars, talks and awareness campaigns, among other activities, in all seven regions to highlight the plight of abused women and children. Read more.
Raising awareness of gender violence as a human rights issue is the aim of 16 Days; this year is the 20th year of the campaign, which is observed around the world. Throughout the campaign, educational messages about gender violence and abuse of children will be broadcasted on TV screens in all City clinics.

This period is used by various non-governmental and governmental organisations to highlight gender violence and child abuse, and to come up with the strategies to overcome these crimes.

A theme is chosen each year. This year, the global theme is: “From peace in the home to peace in the world: let’s challenge militarism and end violence against women”. However, in southern Africa it has been shortened to: “From peace in the home to peace in the world: end gender violence by 2015”.

In 2006, the national government also expanded the campaign, launching 365 Days of Activism to make the fight against gender violence and child abuse a year-round effort.