Cape Town is all set to ‘Break the Silence, Break the Cycle’ with 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The global campaign will be observed from Nov 25 to Dec 10 that calls on everyone to stand against abuse.
As violence and abuse have no place in any home or community. Every woman and child deserve to live free from fear. Together they can change the culture of silence and can end the cycle of abuse, not only for just these 16 days but for every day.
For which people need to be aware of:
- Know Their Rights
- Speak Out Against Abuse
- Support Survivors
- Never Look Away
The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is a worldwide campaign, organised to oppose violence against women and children. The campaign aims to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and children and to get society rid of abuse permanently.
The 16 days activism campaign will observe various events such as:
- Nov 25 – International Day of No Violence Against Women
- Nov 29 – International Women Human Rights Defenders Day
- Dec 01 – World Aids Day
- Dec 03 – International Day for the Disabled
- Dec 10 – International Human Rights Day
Every year the campaign takes place from Nov 25 to Dec 10. Yet the success of this campaign is based on the daily individual and collective actions to safeguard the society against the cycle of abuse and with an objective to break it too.
Some of the notable causes of violence against women and children are that it stems from the low status of women in the home and in society. And it happens when men abuse power and positions of authority in order to control women and children.
What actually is considered as abuse? Any form of behaviour that causes:
- Fear
- Bodily Harm
- Compelling person to do things against their will
Considering this, Parliament of South Africa has passed laws to protect the rights of the 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 law says; DON’T BE A VICTIM! BREAK THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE. BREAK THE SILENCE. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS. ACT AGAINST ABUSE. DO NOT LOOK AWAY!
Here Parliament plays a role that 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 passing of legislation that prevents or prohibits unfair discrimination to people based on race and gender.
The Parliament confirms its vision and says as the institution that transforms the entire society to be based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights, it includes women and children rights. With regards to this, parliament has already made strides in passing legislation aimed at ending the scourge in society.