Women, child abuse dampen festive mood
ALEXANDRA - The festive season mood has taken over most aspects of our lives.
The festive season mood has taken over most aspects of our lives.
Everything we do is characterised by over exuberance from joy to over indulgence in shopping, over consumption in eating, many deaths on our road and, it has also become a norm for crime to skyrocket around this period.
This as criminals also also want their share of the abundant and recklessly exposed cash and goodies. The crime unfortunately extends to even within the home among family members and acquaintances especially when and after binge drinking leads to fights which sometimes are deadly.
As the easy targets because of perceived physical weakness, women and children bear the brunt of this violence which beyond the beating includes rape and femicide.
Their victimisation within a period of merriment unfortunately also, undermines the objective of the International Campaign through the 16 Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Children which takes places from 25 November to 10 December. The event seeks to encourage family members and communities to care, respect and protect the human rights of their mothers, sisters, female neighbours and all children,
Key facts prove that South Africa has a long way to go to eliminate this abuse. A ReAdira Media communiqué has revealed that;
Fifty one percent of women in Gauteng province, 77 percent in Limpopo; 39 percent in the Western Cape and 37 percent in KwaZulu Natal provinces report experiencing some form of violence.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the predominant form of violence against women in the four provinces.
Emotional violence is the highest form of IPV amongst women.
Less than 15 percent of the women in the four provinces report violence against women.
These worrying trends happen despite the country’s strong policy and legislative provisions on gender based violence. They clearly indicate that most of the abuse happens within the home and between known and intimate persons who should be the first to respect each other.
The trends present a challenge that require change in perception, attitudes, beliefs and commitment to equality, respect and the return to the norms and practices of Ubuntu.
