GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - It is no secret that abuse against women and children in our country is increasing at an alarming rate. Nearly 1 000 children were murdered in the last financial year and as many as 500 died as a result of abuse and neglect.
Approximately 3 000 women were murdered in South Africa in 2018. This boils down to one every three hours. According to the latest report of Crime Against Women in SA, femicide in South Africa is five times higher than the global average.
This means that our country's women are five times more likely to be killed due to gender-based violence. Police recorded 177 620 reported crimes against women in the 2017/18 financial year that ended 31 March 2019.
These statistics list 36 731 sexual offences, including rape, assault and the murder of 2 930 women.
Hlompho Mohapi, Uyinene Mrwetyana, Karabo Mokoena, Hannah Cornelius and Leighandre "Baby Lee" Jegels are just a view who have recently become part of these shocking statistics.
16 Days of Activism
According to the Western Cape Department of Community Safety, the international 16 Days of Activism campaign focuses on increasing awareness of the negative impact violence and abuse have on women and children.
The campaign starts on 25 November and ends on 10 December every year.
Objectives of the campaign
- To attract all South Africans to be part of the fight to eliminate violence against women and children.
- To use various mediums to focus on ways that violence against women and children affects the world.
- To effect mass mobilisation of all communities and promote collective responsibility to fight violence against women and children.
- To encourage society to acknowledge that violence against women and children is not a government or criminal justice system problem, but a societal problem.
- To emphasise the fact that the solution lies with all of us.
What is abuse?
Abuse is any form of harm which includes the following:
- Hurting your body physically or sexually;
- Insulting you or threatening you with violence;
- Harassing you sexually;
- Humiliating and degrading you at home or in public:
- Stalking you;
- Harming your health or well-being;
- Physical violence in the form of domestic violence, murder, robbery, rape and assault.
For more information call the Stop Gender-based Violence helpline on 0800 150 150. Crime can also be reported anonymously by calling Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or SMS "CRIMELINE" on 32211 (R1/sms).
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