Angelina Matsie Motshekga is the president of the African National Congress Women's League in the Republic of South Africa. She also serves as Minister of Basic Education in the ANC-led government.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
19 November 2009
The African National Congress Women's League unreservedly supports the 16 days of activism against women and children between 25th November 2009 -10th December 2009 under the theme: "Don't look away, Act against Abuse".
The ANCWL joins the African continent and the rest of the peoples of the world in dedicating the 2009 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence Campaign to honouring groups and individuals who have committed to bringing violence against women to the forefront of global attention and assisting victims of this scourge in our society. We salute them for remaining resolute and tenacious in the fight against violence and abuse of women and children.
The ANCWL reaffirms its commitment to remain in the forefront of the fight against abuse of women and children. We make a resolve that says, "If you or anyone among us is affected, we all are and we shall not look away but act against the abuse of women and children in our society". We also make a commitment that says: "for as long as some among us suffer abuse in the hands of their partners or relatives and behind the closed doors of their homes and, in some instances, in the streets of their communities, the struggle for women emancipation and the promise for security and safety remains an unfulfilled and a distant dream".
In supporting the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender based Violence Campaign, the ANCWL will take part in the launch the campaign and the Lighting of the Torch of Peace at the Union Buildings in the City of Tshwane on 24 November 2009 and the Stakeholders Summit organised by government at the Birchwood Hotel in Gauteng on 25 November 2009. We will also arrange various provincial rallies and forums to share information with women on support systems and processes to deal with gender based violence.
As we celebrate the 10th year since the launch of this campaign, the ANCWL notes the growth in public awareness of the campaign and its messages. We commend the government, civil society organisations, religious organisation, churches and community activists for ensuring that this campaign is extended to rural and farm areas.
This year as we observe the 16 days of activism, our nation celebrates the establishment of a the Ministry of Women and Children and the various pieces of legislation and institutions that our country has put in place to protect and assist women and children to break the circle of violence in our society and openly and publicly talking about their experiences of violation. We will continue to ensure that this important Ministry plays a crucial role in South Africa and that it remains the custodian of the plight of women and children who day in and day are subjected violence and abuse.
The ANCWL recognises that the rights of women and children are fundamental human rights entrenched in and protected by our Constitution. Therefore, gender-based violence in all its different guises is incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated in our households and society at large.
The ANCWL is, however, concerned that despite a wide range of legalisation to protect women from violence and gender discrimination, women and children in South Africa, particularly girls still remain victims of gender based violence. In some parts of our country women and girls still suffer from cultural marginilisation and discrimination, sexual violence, forced marriages and prostitution.
We are saddened that our nation launches this important campaign in the midst of new information showing that women still remain the largest victims of HIV and AIDS in South Africa. We make a renewed call to all South Africans to ensure that on the 1 December they test to know their status and those affected to get treatment. We also make a passionate plea to all South Africans, particularly the youth and young women to heed to the "ABC -abstain, be faithful and condomise" campaign and make it a principle of their life.
We note the various media reports of women and children who have been killed and abused by their husbands, partners and relatives. We also note the sleighing of eight-year-old Moegamat Yunis Desai in Mitchells Plain in the Western Cape and the 24-year-old woman who was forced out of her vehicle and pushed over the Umkomaas River Bridge on the N2 south in Chatsworth in KwaZulu-Natal.
We would like to extend our condolences to the Desai family and the many victims of gender based violence in our country and wish a speedy recovery to the 24-year-old woman. We call on the police to ensure that the perpetrators of these hyena crimes are brought to justice and that they are completely removed from our society.
During this month we reaffirm our commitment to the eight principle objectives of the campaign. That is:
-To continue to generate an increased level of awareness amongst South Africans pertaining to the incidence of violence perpetuated against women and children, how it manifests itself within South African society and the negative impact on these vulnerable groups;
-To challenge perpetrators of these offences to change their behaviour;
-To enhance and increase partnerships between government, the private sector, civil society, organised labour, sectoral groups, the faith based organisations, the media (electronic and print) and the diplomatic community in an effort to spread the message;
-To align events in the national programme with that of the international theme for this year, which focuses on matters relating to Women's Health;
-To working with NGOs that work within the sector, providing invaluable support to the victims and survivors of violence;
-To communicate through the most effective and appropriate channels aiming to reach the maximum number of people across the country, particularly women and children residing in rural areas;
-To engage actively with men and boys in the discourse about combating violence in our homes, our communities and in the workplace; and
-To highlight the stories of survivors of gender-based violence and the impact that the campaign has had on their lives.
The ANCWL calls on all South Africans to support the campaign by utilising the white ribbon symbol in innovative and inventive ways to reflect solidarity and commitment to stamp out the abuse of women and children in our society. We also call on all employers, particularly those in the public service to encourage their employees to wear the white ribbon for the duration of the 16-day period, as a visual commitment of solidarity that says "Don't look away, Act against Act against Abuse".
Amandla! Wathint' Abafazi Wathint' imbokodo! (Now that you have touched the women, you have struck a rock!)!
Issued by:
President of the ANCWL
Mrs Angelina Matsie "Angie" Motshekga
For enquiries contact:
Vuyi Manyandela
Cell: 082 331 2452
E-mail: vuyim@anc.org.za
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