Keynote Address by
Hon. Premier TSP Makwetla at a Provincial Conference and the
Launch of 365 Days of Activism Against Violence and Abuse on
Women and Children
Ingwenyama
Lodge, White River
6-7 December 2007
Programme
Director,
MEC Pule, our 16
Days of Activism Champion
Members of the
Executive Council,
Executive Mayors
and Councillors,
Government’s
Social Partners,
Gender Activists,
Senior Managers
and officials in the Public Service,
Conference
Delegates and Presenters,
Ladies and
Gentlemen,
The launch of the
365 Days of Activism Against Violence and Abuse on Women and
Children is an important step towards deepening
Collectively, as government, business, civil society
organisations, faith-based organisations, the media and the
community at large, it is essential that we all participate in
sustained social mobilisation against violence and abuse on
women and children. The 2007 Campaign theme enjoins us not to
look away, but to act against abuse.
So, “Don’t Look
Away – Act Against Abuse”.
Despite the constitutional guarantees of the human rights which
women and children are entitled to, we are disturbed by the high
levels of violence against women and children which continue to
plague our communities.
Critically, we
need to enhance public awareness about the negative social
outcomes of violence against and abuse of women and children.
Physical abuse, rape,
incest, sexual harassment, verbal abuse and trafficking of women
and children are some the fundamental violations that result in
emotional and psychological distress among the victims of abuse.
In addition to
these forms of abuse, we need to consciously deal with
institutionalised sexism, gender discrimination, inequality and
injustices that compromise women’s health and reproductive
rights, as well as access to safe health facilities.
It
is critical that today’s conference discussions define
strategies and programmes aimed at transforming social
behaviours towards respect for women and children. We need to
challenge the perpetrators of violence to change their
behaviour, and encourage women and children to break the silence
by reporting incidents of abuse and violence.
In many instances, the prevalence of violence and abuse in
society is shrouded in secrecy and is well veiled by women
themselves due to cultural orientations and traditions that
encourage women to suffer and die in silence.
Most
victims are silent about reporting cases of violence against
them, either because they fear reprisals, or because they are
ashamed to have been attacked by their husbands or partners.
Programme Director, studies are showing trends that incidents of
abuse usually occur in places where women and children think
they are safe - in their
homes.
Violence against women is most likely to happen in the home, a
supposed safe place for women. Most women and children know the
perpetrator.
Many of the women, who are victims of violence by a present or
past partner, have children, and they are abused in the presence
of their children. Invariably,
children are affected by violence as they grow up in a violent
and unstable home. Their socialization in this unstable and
violent environment tends to manifest itself through the
practice of abusive behaviours when they become adults.
Changing social behaviour requires that, as society, we instil
positive values among our young boys to respect women.
We should involve men
and boys in helping to eradicate violence.
As
a Province, we therefore need to strengthen interventions that
involve men and boys in promoting attitude and behaviour change.
The recent Million’s Men March and the memorandum submitted to
the MEC for Safety and Security, Mr. Mahlalela, and the Chief
Magistrate, Mr. Ngobeni, is a giant and positive transformative
step taken by men and our boys in the Province to modernise our
society. We should
applaud them for the initiative taken to make a bold statement
that violence and abuse against women and children should stop.
To
lesson the impact of violence on the lives of victims, it is
important that our criminal justice system supports the victims
of violence and abuse by ensuring that perpetrators are brought
to book. Women and
children must be encouraged to report cases of abuse to the
police. The confidence in the criminal justice system should
result in improved cooperation between the communities and law
enforcement agencies to eliminate domestic violence and abuse.
Working with civil society, we must enhance our institutional
capacity to support victims of violence and abuse. It is
essential that we expand services to reach out to rural women
and children. Our
partnership must strengthen support for victims and survivors by
supporting institutions (shelters) that provide interim
assistance to women and children who are victims of violence and
abuse.
Ladies and Gentleman, sexual abuse and sexual exploitation are some of the contributory factors to the high rates of HIV and Aids infections among women. The gender and economic power relations between men and women tend to make women vulnerable to HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases. Violence, abuse and fear compromise a woman’s ability to negotiate safe sexual behaviour, even in a consensual union.
Poverty and economic dependency also reduces a woman’s leverage
in negotiating sexual preferences and decisions.
In such circumstances,
she is forced to engage in sexual activities against her will in
the hope to sustain the relationship for economic dependency
reasons.
Programme Director, I am confident that this 365 Days of
Activism conference will reaffirm our commitment to the
eradication of all forms of violence against women and children.
The consolidation of the
inputs from various sectors and stakeholders will hopefully
provide the basis for the Provincial Action Plan to end
Gender-Based Violence. We
should work together and heighten awareness of the negative
impact of Gender-Based Violence.
Let us all work together to continue building a nation that
cares and respects women and children, a nation that promotes
equality and justice, a nation that guarantees freedom from
violence and abuse of any form, a nation of equals.
Thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier,