Annually, South Africa joins the global community to commemorate the 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children from 25 November to 10 December. This year’s campaign will be commemorated under the theme: “Accelerating actions to end Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF): leaving no one behind” with “Safe access for women to clean water: a basic human right” as a sub-theme.
The DBE has collaborated with the Agape Youth Movement (AYM) in partnership with GCIS, the Partnerships for Prevention Programme of the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), UNICEF South Africa and the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, to support children and adolescents to raise awareness about GBVF prevention focusing on their peers. The launch of the Child-Led Social Media campaign will be taking place at the GIZ Offices, Hatfield in Tshwane on 24 November 2023.
Mr Likho Bottoman, Director for Social Cohesion and Equity in Education, gave an overview of the objectives for the “16-Days of Activism: Adolescent and Children’s Awareness Campaign 2023”: “We intend to increase awareness amongst adolescents and children about GBV, emphasising its consequences and impact on individuals and communities and to provide them with information on early prevention, including definitions of relevant concepts such as consent, respect and healthy relationships. In addition, we intend to offer guidance and resources to caregivers, enabling them to better support and educate children about preventing GBV and promoting safe and respectful behaviour, whilst raising awareness amongst children and parents about the responsible and safe use of online spaces. We also need to inform adolescents and children about available support systems, both within their communities and online, and educate them on the processes and channels for reporting incidents of GBV. Child-led initiatives such as these are useful in empowering young advocates for change to engage in discussions and actions against GBV”.
A face-to-face community engagement will be held at the Saulville Community Library on 27 November to provide learners with information on GBV prevention, including key definitions of relevant concepts, such as consent, respect, and healthy relationships. In addition, the DBE, the Gauteng Department of Education and Sukuma Ndoda Sakhe have organised dialogues with young boys on the importance and provision of psychosocial services. The dialogues will be held in the Sedibeng District Municipality on 25 November and in the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality on 29 November. To mark the launch of the 16 Days period, Government will host an official commemorative event on the 25 November at the Nsikazi Stadium, City of Mbombela Local Municipality in Mpumalanga where Deputy President, Mr Paul Mashatile, will be delivering a keynote address. Basic Education Deputy Minister, Dr Reginah Mhaule, will be attending the launch.
South Africa and the Union of Comoros will also co-host the 3rd AU Men’s Conference on Positive Masculinity in Leadership to End Violence against Women and Girls on 27 - 28 November in Pretoria. Deputy President Mashatile, launched the Takuwani Riime Programme of Action earlier this month. Takuwani Riime is a Tshivenda expression meaning, “Let Us Stand Up Together” as a call for men to stand united, in responding to the multiple gender-related challenges in our society. The Takuwani Riime Programme also advances socioeconomic development and promotes men’s health, with a special focus on the prevention of HIV and GBVF.
Cases of rape, sexual assault or any form of violence can be reported to local police stations or by calling the Crime Stop number: 086 00 10111. Alternatively, the GBVF Command Centre can be contacted: at 0800 428 428 or reported using the MySAPS App.