Tue Nov 18 07:03:58 UTC 2008
“Don’t Look Away, Act Against Abuse!” – this is the call to society made this year by the 16 Days of Activism Campaign against gender violence.
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign. It takes place annually from the 25th November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to the 10th December (International Human Rights Day).
For the past eighteen years the 16 Days of Activism has marked activities around the world to end gender-based violence. The 16 Days Campaign has been used to create a global movement to raise awareness, to address policy and legal issues, to campaign for the protection of survivors of violence and to call for the elimination of all forms of gender violence.
Since 1999 the South African Government has run a parallel campaign that includes issues relating to violence against children. 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 rights of women and children are fundamental human rights entrenched in and protected by the Constitution. Gender-based violence in all its different guises is incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated.
South Africans can show their support by, amongst others, wearing a white ribbon to reflect their solidarity with the cause.
This year, members of the public can also contribute to the cause through the 16 Days of Activism SMS Campaign. By sending an SMS to 31616 you will contribute R5 in support of the campaign. There will also be a return SMS to the sender with further details of the campaign. All funds raised in this way will be disseminated to organizations working in the field by The Human Rights Foundation.
For more information on this 16 Days of Activism Campaign, visit their web site: