News
When a Man Changes, Everything Changes” – Click on the link below for a Message from Brothers For Life
We literally only have hours now to stop the Secrecy Bill -- the National Assembly is called to vote on it this afternoon.
Call Chief Whip Dr. Motshekga's office: 021 403 2288 or 021 403 2280 or 021 403 3860
Call Deputy President Mr. Motlanthe's office: 021 403 2353 or 021 403 2635
The other Chief Whips:
Call Chief Whip Mr. Magwanishe's offices:
Cape Town -- 021 403 2211 // Constituency -- 011 873 7753
Call Chief Whip Ms. Ntwanambi's offices:
Cape Town -- 021 403 2429 // Constituency -- 021 785 4610
Call Chief Whip Mr. Davidson's office: 083 302 2199
On the eve of the COP17/CMP7 United Nations Climate Change Conference and amid intense public discussion on the National Planning Commission’s National Development Plan, we dare not lose focus on a challenge that is a lot closer to home. In fact, it often presents itself right inside our homes: abuse of women and children. With a week to go to the start of the annual United Nations-endorsed 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign, South Africans should spend time reflecting on some of the causes that are at the foundation of the criminal, psychological and educational challenges facing our country.
A fully functional and integrated society depends on mutual respect and a moral code that permeates the daily life of all its citizens.
As a nation, most of us are united in our vision of a country free of violence, sexual abuse and behaviour that is not in line with the core values and beliefs we endorse. We all believe our homes, schools, hospitals and streets should be safe havens where no woman or child should ever be troubled by thoughts or the physical prospect of harm.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
22 November 2011
Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) notes with deep regret the decision taken in the National Assembly today to pass the Protection of Information Bill.
We call on President Zuma and the African National Congress to follow through on their pledge of a fully public and consultative process on this Bill. While civil society, including Media Monitoring Africa, has stated its willingness to challenge the Bill at the Constitutional Court, we believe it is not too late for President Zuma to ensure the Bill can pass constitutional muster. We call on President Zuma to send the Bill back for revision.
A SERIES of awareness campaigns and activities are planned for 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, with special attention paid to crimes against lesbians. Joburg’s observance of the annual international campaign, which runs from 25 November – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women – to 10 December, will begin in Alexandra. Here, about 500 people are expected to take part in a Taking Back the Night march.The march, which is held to reclaim the right to be safe in all places at all times, will go through Alex hotspots that are known to be unsafe for women and children.
Read more: http://www.joburg.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=74...
Are ICT's hot for women? With all the technology and the power it provides to communicate, one often find themselves accessing and distributing information without thinking of the impact it makes out there. A case in point is the Jules High School alleged gang rape case, where learners recorded the incident and it ended up on the internet and it is still in circulation. This not only amounts to the creation and distribution of child pornography but has far reaching implications for those filmed not to mention the role it plays in perpetuating sexual violence against women and children.
AS WE mark the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, the sport and recreation fraternity takes a stand against any form of abuse against our mothers, sisters and children.Women form part and parcel of the future design of this country and the world. We celebrate our mothers, sisters and daughters by highlighting the importance of females in society. Since the advent of democracy in 1994, South Africa has shown the world how women's emancipation is and will be. We are all of the same umbilical cord that cannot be broken in the fight against HIV and Aids.
This year's 16 Days of Activism on Violence Against Women and Children will cover challenges faced by lesbian women, including so called 'corrective rape'. Minister of Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana announced this in Parliament yesterday.
The campaign is to be launched in Atteridgeville outside Pretoria on November 25. Making the announcement, Xingwana highlighted that this year’s campaign will cover challenges of attacks on lesbian women. She said, “We’ll seek to raise community awareness about the need to address so-called corrective rape and murder of lesbian women.”
Gender-based violence is one of the most common forms of violence in the world.
It takes various forms including physical violence, emotional violence, sexual violence and economic violence. Whilst perpetrators of GBV are found among both men and women, recent studies undertaken in many countries have found a high prevalence of physical and sexual violence against women by intimate male partners. Statistics from the United Nations Population Fund indicate that 95 percent of victims of domestic violence are women, while 99 percent of perpetrators are men.
GBV has devastating consequences, not only for victims, but also for society as a whole. It impacts women’s health, particularly reproductive health. GBV eats up earnings due to death and lost productivity, job loss, lost productivity of the abuser due to incarceration, and loss of tax revenue due to death and incarceration.