16 Days of Activism
24/11/2006 17:07  - (SA)  

No violence drive starts 1 in 3 women abused - UN report Activism operation nets 76 Imagine a violence-free SA... Children's Bill gets the nod

'Imagine if, for 16 days, there were no rape, no child abuse, no sexual harassment, no emotional abuse.' - Anon

The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence is an international campaign designed to raise awareness about violence against women and children. The campaign runs from November 25, International Day Against Violence Against Women and December 10, International Human Rights Day, in order to symbolically link violence against women and human rights and to emphasize that such violence is a violation of human rights.

This 16-day period also highlights other significant dates including November 29, International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, December 1, World AIDS Day, and December 6, which marks the Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre.

The theme for 2006 is 'Let's Protect the Rights of Women and Children to Safety' and the campaign is celebrating it's 16th successful year.

The campaign is particularly relevant in South Africa where a woman is raped every 26 seconds and a child is raped every 24 minutes. The incidence of HIV in South Africa is highest in girls aged 15 to 25 years. (Statistics sourced from POWA)

There are many things that you can do to mark the 16 Days of Activism. Participate in a local event marking the campaign; donate funds to a local or national charity or NGO or, most importantly, help in the reporting or investigating of abuse against women and children.

'Our democratic South Africa has to leave no stone unturned in dealing with the challenge of violence against women and children.' - Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka.

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