By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Minister in the presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has urged men to openly condemn those who continue to abuse women and children.
Addressing men who were part of an event marking the end of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children in Caluza, outside the Pietermaritzburg CBD, Dlamini-Zuma called on the men to be part of the struggle against the abuse of women and children.
It is also important for you as men to speak out because if you don’t it creates the impression that all men are abusers. So, you should not protect the perpetrators
While the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children drive, which is an international campaign, was officially closed on Sunday, Dlamini-Zuma said national government has resolved to run the campaign for 365 days.
“We resolved that we can’t run this campaign for only 16 days while our women and children are being abused for 365 days. We have also resolved that each and every ward in the country should have a 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children programme,” she said.
The minister, who urged men to dismantle stereotypes of women, said parents should be role models to their children to ensure that the children do not become abusers in their adult life. “We can’t have a situation where parents fight each other in front of the children, because if you do that you are actually teaching our children violence,” she said.
Dlamini-Zuma said, governement chose to close the campaign in Pietermaritzburg, which is under the uMgungundlovu District, because of the high prevalence of women and children abuse cases in the district.
Speaking at the same event, KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube urged women to play a role in the fight against the abuse of women and children. “If you are a woman and have opened a criminal case after being abused, you can’t turn around and withdraw the case.
“If you do that, then you are actually encouraging the perpetrators to continue abusing women
Women, Dube-Ncube said, should be vigilant and put measures in place to safeguard themselves and their children against abuse during the festive season.
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Video Courtesy of KZNGOV.