16 no-violence days 'a success'

2003-12-10 20:42

Cape Town - NGOs and the government have hailed the 16 days of activism for no violence against women as a success, but have warned the issue should not now be relegated to the sidelines.

The 16 days, an annual international initiative backed by the United Nations, ended on Wednesday.

Head of the Western Cape Network on Violence against Women Cheryl Ayogu said it had been "very successful", not least because of the increasing involvement of the government in what had, for years, been an NGO-driven initiative.

"Hopefully in the near future it won't be just 16 days, and we will consider violence against women and what needs to happen to prevent it every day," she said.

And because it came just before the holiday season, when the incidence of rape and violence usually increased, she hoped it would have an impact on those statistics.

Deputy Justice Minister Cheryl Gillwald said the 16 days had been "a concentrated piece of messaging and awareness.

"But it is a 365-day campaign."

Though mechanisms were being developed in the courts to respond to violence against women, prevention was where the action had to happen.

There could not be a policeman in every home.

"We need brothers and sisters and mothers and sons to protect one another," she said.

- SAPA