15 November 2011

Victims of cyberstalking suffer more than victims of 'traditional' bullying, research shows.The inability to escape from the 24 hour online world and the public nature of threats posted on the internet make being bullied electronically more intense, it was claimed. The research also found that four out of ten women have suffered electronic harassment after dating online and 20 per cent of online stalkers use social networking to stalk their victims.

The Northern Cape provincial government has lobbied the business sector to get involved in this year’s programme to fight against child and women abuse. The 16 Days of Activism against violence against women and children is normally observed from the end of November until December 10 each year. The month of November has been set aside as the time in which government and all other role players will raise awareness of gender-based violence against women and children countrywide.

In a prelude to the introduction of a motion concerning violence against women, the Revd Scott Holmes spoke and showed a video of a woman who had experienced both physical and psychological violence. Mr Holmes is Co-ordinator of the Northern Interfaith Respectful Relationships Project and has written a discussion paper on the role of the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne in the primary prevention of violence against women. Sahar, the woman in the film, said she felt paralysed by the violence in her marriage. Her three children were depressed and damaged – one was suicidal. She felt she had to endure violence to shield them, hoping that if her husband harmed her, he might leave them alone. She felt faith leaders played a vital role in helping women in violent relationships; that was how she had found the strength to move out of her own situation.

Say NO - UniTE to End Violence against Women is two years old on November 6. It has already made its mark and has constituted a tremendous success on the world stage, fighting for women's rights, fighting against violence against women. Two years, two million actions, six hundred partners. We are proud to present the latest material from UN Women...UN Women's initiative Say NO - UniTE to End Violence against Women invites the world community to make a wish that can help to end violence against women and girls and to say what one day without gender based violence means, as part of the public awareness campaign to spread the initiative, to create a better world, an inclusive world, where men and women live side by side as partners. We print the five questions UN Women presented to the first Executive Director of UN Women (Michelle Bachelet), where she spoke about the campaign to end violence against women and girls and outlined the strategies to be implemented to make a difference.