No fire in activism campaign

2007-11-08 20:04

Pretoria - The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children Campaign was launched on Thursday.

However, the torch that was supposed to mark the event could not be lit by Deputy Minister of Local and Provincial Government Nomatyala Hangana.

After several failed attempts to light the torch, at one stage with pieces of paper and a lighter, the deputy minister gave up.

The annual event aims to raise awareness of the plight of abuse against women and children. The campaign, carrying the theme, "Don't look away - act against abuse", will start on November 25, which also happens to be International Day for No Violence Against Women.

It will run through to December 10, coinciding with International Human Rights Day.

A strong focus of this year's campaign is to involve men and boys in the discourse about combating violence in SA's homes, at schools, in communities and in the workplace.

The campaign acknowledged there were many men that were not perpetrators, but partners.

The South African Post Office is this year sponsoring two million postcards which will raise funds for Non Governmental Organisations that support survivors and victims of gender-based violence and child abuse.

The postcards also serve as a registration to attend the planned marches that will take place in every province on 25 November 2007.

The main march is scheduled to take place in Bloemfontein.

- SAPA