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SPEECH BY THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF SOCIAL
DEVELOPMENT: DR JEAN BENJAMIN DURING THE CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE 16
DAYS OF ACTIVISM IN BADPLAAS (MPUMALANGA PROVINCE)
DATE: 07 DECEMBER 2006
Programme Director,
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology:
Mr. Derek Hanekom,
MEC for Health and Social Services in
Mpumalanga: Mr. Pogisho Pasha
Executive Mayor of Albert Luthuli Local
Municipality,
Councillors,
Traditional Leaders here present,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today to commemorate
16 Days of Activism on No Violence against Women and Children. During
this period communities around the world are engaged in various
activities all aimed at raising a voice against the violation of
rights of women and children. South Africa has been participating in
the 16 Days of Activism Campaign since 1998 and has been using this
period to raise public awareness on violence against women and
children and to encourage behaviour change. The purpose of this
campaign is to generate an increased awareness and to mobilize
communities on prevention of violence against women and children.
Honourable Mayor of Badplaas, allow me to
applaud you and your council for your initiative in the fight against
violence on women and children. Your donation of a piece of land for
the establishment of a permanent Shelter for women and their children
is greatly appreciated. It is true that better service delivery and
better resource utilization is through the synergy of the three tiers
of government, as it is this case with this project.
South Africa has one of the highest per
capita rates of reported rapes in the world. This is despite the fact
that most of rape cases are not reported. According to Childline South
Africa, there has been a huge increase of 400% in the number of
reported cases of child abuse in South Africa over a period of ten
years. The number of cases reported by Child Welfare Societies
affiliated to the Council had increased by 62% from 2000 to 2002. What
is more disturbing is that more than 51% of all cases fell into the
category of sexual abuse. More than 69% of the victims were female.
The results of the large-scale community based prevalence study that
was conducted in three provinces also showed that at least 25% of
women have experienced abuse in their lifetime.
Ladies and gentlemen, the sad reality of
all is that these crimes, in some instances are committed against
women and children in their own homes by people who are supposed to
protect them. Women and children are the most treasured members of our
society but they are continuously subjected to the most ruthless and
horrendous crimes ever committed against humanity.
Women and girls are framed by social,
cultural and economic context that continues to compromise their
status and quality of life. Factors such as imbalances in gender
relations, unemployment and high level of alcohol and substance abuse
contribute to the high levels of victimisation of women and children
in South Africa. Such situations make it difficult for women and girls
to develop to their full potential and to fully contribute to economic
development of this country and to the welfare of their families and
the development of the society at large.
Let me reflect on violence against women
and children as a contributing factor to the escalating infection
rates amongst women. Women’s vulnerability to HIV infection and other
sexually transmitted diseases is particularly heightened by their
economic dependency on men, poverty, sexual exploitation and some
cultural practices. According to UNAIDS, women make up the largest
percentage of people living with HIV and AIDS all over the world.
Vulnerability of women and the girl child to HIV and AIDS is further
exacerbated by the fact that a large proportion of those who
experience the harsh realities of poverty are women and children.
I also need to alert members here about
another emerging form of violence against women and children, that is,
trafficking in human beings, especially women and children. Most young
girls are lured into being sexual slaves under the pretext of job
opportunities. Babies and young girls are abducted and sold as sex
slaves. We as communities need to be vigilant and be on the guard for
perpetrators of such acts. Let us continuously and tirelessly alert
our children and young girls about the dangers of associating with
strangers and eating anything offered by strangers. This goes for both
boys and girls.
Programme Director, I need to make it
known that prevention of violence against the vulnerable groups of
society, for example, women, children, people with disabilities and
the older persons, is one of the priorities of the Department of
Social Development. The Department of Social Development is also
committed to the establishment of shelters for victims of domestic
violence together with their children – a living example is the
commitment to the development of the Badplaas Shelter. These shelters
provide accommodation, safety, security and skill development to the
victims who have nowhere else to stay except to be at the
perpetrator’s home. The importance of creating awareness of the
prescripts of the Domestic Violence Act as a legislation for the
protection and children against domestic violence cannot be
over-emphasized. There is a dire shortage of shelters in the country.
This is an area where the business sector could come on board to
support the initiatives by Civil Society Organisations at grassroots
level. The Department of Social Development has made available a
costed Shelter Strategy to guide the development and management of
shelters and this document has been distributed to all provincial
departments of Social Development and other role players.
To this day ladies and gentlemen, we still
re-iterate that if South Africans, collectively, managed to overcome
the worst form of violence against humanity, that is apartheid, it is
the same collective effort we must apply to overcome violence against
women and children. We need to truly affirm, and realize the “Age of
Hope” as espoused by our President, the hope that we will uphold and
protect the rights of women and children. We will affirm that we are a
nation that does not hurt nor harm women and children.
We are also here to acknowledge the
efforts by brave men and women of Albert Luthuli Municipality who did
not look away when they saw the pain of women and children who are
victims of domestic violence. These are the sons and daughters of
Africa who are willingly carrying the torch into this “Age of Hope”
with the aim of achieving a goal of a better life for all. These are
people who did not fold their hands but took action in ensuring that a
Victim Support Centre is established in Badplaas. The establishment of
a shelter on these grounds will be a milestone of their efforts, a
result of not looking away and willing
I wish to commend men who have joined the
struggle against gender-based violence. It is also essential to extend
information to those million of men who have not joined the struggle
yet and enlist their participation in the enhancement of gender
equality, peace and family health. This will enable them to better
understand and share responsibility for the prevention of violence,
sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, for the care of the young,
and for supporting and protecting the physical and psychological
safety and well being of their families.
In conclusion, I want to emphasise that
the Department of Social Development will continue to work with the
civil society organizations, and other partners in ensuring the
realization of the aspiration of our Government of creating peaceful
communities and creating a better life for all.
If you see, if you witness violence on
women as well as children, act immediately, report immediately to the
police, social workers, councillors ad health care professionals.
I thank you
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