16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM: LESS REACTION AND MORE ACTION REQUIRED

16 days of activism for no violence against women and children abuse is a worldwide campaign to oppose violence against women and children. The campaign seeks to raise awareness of the negative impact that violence and abuse have on women and children and to rid society of abuse permanently.

The campaign is held annually from 25 November to 10 December. The sad reality of the campaign is that the success of it rests on our daily individual and collective actions to safeguard our society against this cycle of abuse.

The theme for 2016 is "Count me in: Together moving a non-violent South Africa forward", the campaign will be officially launched by His Excellency, The Honorable President Jacob Zuma in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, on 25 November.

Although the campaign runs only for 16 days each year, its objectives are reinforced by a year-long programme and a national plan to combat abuse.

Despite the 16 days of activism against the abuse of women and children and world-renowned Constitution and a legislative overhaul that safeguards women's and children's rights, women and children abuse remains at an incline in South Africa.

The abuse of women and children is systematic and is endorsed by various cycles such as culture and religion. In a diverse country like South Africa, where there is a variety of cultures and religious beliefs practiced on a daily basis, with some of them objectively abusing women. 

Women from all kinds of backgrounds and all ages in modern South Africa, face abuse in all spheres of life. It can happen at work, on the street, or at home. Women face among others:

•  Dating violence
•   Domestic and intimate partner violence
•  Emotional abuse
•  Human trafficking
•  Same-sex relationship violence
•  Sexual assault and abuse
•  Stalking
•  Violence against immigrant and refugee women
•  Violence against women at work
•   Violence against women with disabilities

While child abuse and neglect occurs in a range of situations, for a range of reasons, they are rarely subject to one form of abuse at a time. Children who experience abuse are more prone to face a range of psychological, emotional and social problem throughout their lifetime if they don’t seek psychological help.

Research by McGill University (published October 14, 2015) showed that emotional abuse of a child may be equally harmful as physical abuse and neglect, while child sexual abuse often co-occurs with other forms of poor treatment. Children are likely to face:

•  Emotional abuse
•  Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Family violence
•  Sexual abuse
• Organised sexual abuse

Sometimes, women and children experience abuse by strangers, but most often they are hurt by people who are close to them, people that they trust the most, such as a parent, spouse and or partner.

The campaign also aims to:

•  Challenge the perpetrators of violence to change their behaviour.
• Involve men in helping to eradicate violence.
• Provide survivors with information on services and organisations that can help lessen the impact of violence on their lives.

Besides being social media advocates, South African can join the fight of women and children abuse in reality. The country needs more people who will not just react but act towards the incline of abuse against our mothers, sisters, brothers, nephews and nieces.

Men remain at the centre for the causes of these various abuse forms against women and children and are critical partners in the fight against the abuse of women and children. Men and boys are encouraged to talk about abuse and actively discourage abusive behaviour. Families, as a whole, need to stick together to create a safe environment for women and children.

All South Africans are urged to support the campaign by wearing a white ribbon - a symbol of peace - during the 16-day period to symbolise their commitment to never commit or condone violence against women or children.

Students or staff members experiencing abuse of any kind need to speak out and seek assistance. If you a student who is experiencing any kind of abuse be it at home, at your residence or on campus, you can visit the Student Counseling Office, HIV/AIDS Unit Office and or the Clinic of which all of them are situated at the CPUT Cape Town campus, Admin Building, Second Floor.