GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM FOR NO VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN CAMPAIGN
LUTENDO LIVHEBE – MUDAU. The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days) will launch at Johannesburg Expo Centre (NASREC Showgrounds), on 25 November 2022, under the theme: “Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment to build Women’s Resilience against Gender Based Violence and Femicide: Connect, Collaborate, Contract!”
The theme seeks to expose society’s unequal ownership of the economy, increasing women’s susceptibility to abuse. Building Women’s Resilience against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide seeks to address barriers women face in accessing the economy through providing platforms for women to connect and contract.
The launch event will take the form of a Women Trade Expo which will bring together hundreds of women-owned businesses from across South Africa to showcase their products and services, to connect with buyers, and to collaborate and network with other women in business.
There will also be breakaway sessions which aim to inform and empower through information sharing sessions on the day.
The economic empowerment of women remains a key priority of government, as it is considered a central tenet to ensuring a more equal society for all. Economic empowerment is one of the most powerful routes for women to achieve their potential and advance their rights. It promotes women’s ability to reduce household poverty, hunger and food insecurity, as well as reducing the heightened levels of inequalities they face on a daily basis.
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign (16 Days) will launch at Johannesburg Expo Centre (NASREC Showgrounds), on 25 November 2022, under the theme: “Socio-Economic Rights and Empowerment to build Women’s Resilience against Gender Based Violence and Femicide: Connect, Collaborate.
6 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children
WHAT IS THE 16 DAYS ACTIVISM?
- It is a WORLDWIDE Campaign to OPPOSE VIOLENCE against WOMEN and CHILDREN
- It aims to raise awareness of the NEGATIVE impact that VIOLENCE and ABUSE have on WOMEN and CHILDREN and to RID society of ABUSE PERMANENTLY
WHEN DOES THE CAMPAIGN TAKE PLACE?
- The 16 Days of Activism Campaign is held from 25 November to 10 December every year
- However, the success of this campaign rests on our daily individual and collective actions to safeguard our society against this cycle of abuse
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN?
It stems from the low status of women in the home and in society
It happens when men abuse POWER and positions of authority in order to CONTROL women and children
WHAT IS ABUSE?
Any form of behaviour that causes:
- fear
- bodily harm
- a person to do things against their will
EXAMPLES OF ABUSE:
DO YOU KNOW…
that Parliament has passed laws to protect the rights of individuals against abuse?
THEY ARE:
- The Domestic Violence Act of 1998
- The Children’s Act of 2005
- The Maintenance Act of 1998
- The Promotion of Equity and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act of 2000
- The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters Act) Amendment Act of 2007
THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENT
The role of Parliament includes the promotion of human dignity, equality, non-racialism, non-sexism and the supremacy of the Constitution. Parliament upholds citizens’ human rights and oversees the implementation of constitutional imperatives. This includes, but is not limited to, passing of legislation that prevents or prohibits unfair discrimination to people based on race and gender.
The vision of Parliament confirms Parliament as the institution that transforms the entire society to be based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights, which include women’s and children’s rights. With regard to this, Parliament has already made strides in passing legislation aimed at ending this scourge in society.
DON’T BE A VICTIM!
- BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
- BREAK THE SILENCE
- KNOW YOUR RIGHTS
- ACT AGAINST ABUSE
- DO NOT LOOK AWAY!
KEY DATES TO OBSERVE IN THIS PERIOD:
- 25 November: International Day of No Violence Against Women
- 29 November: International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
- 1 December: World Aids Day
- 3 December: International Day for the Disabled
- 10 December: International Human Rights Day
