Don't Look Away, Act Against Abuse"



Background

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children is a United Nations campaign. It takes place annually from the 25th November (International Day of No Violence against Women) to the 10th December (International Human Rights Day). Since 1999 the South African Government has run a parallel campaign that includes issues relating to violence against children.

This campaign focuses primarily on generating an increased awareness of the negative impact of violence on women and children as well as society as a whole.



The Local government policy and legislative framework creates an enabling environment for gender equality, empowerment and the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in developmental initiatives.



In the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region the campaign has gained significant momentum through the adoption of the Addendum on the Prevention and Eradication of Violence against Women and Children by the SADC Heads of State in the year 1998.

Campaign Vision

An effective 16 Days of Activism Campaign that translates into sustainable 365 Days of Action to end violence against women and children within a coordinated system of government and through partnerships with all spheres of government.

The Campaign's Objectives

• To generate an increased level of awareness amongst South Africans pertaining to the incidence of violence perpetuated against women and children, how it manifests itself within South African society and the negative impact on these vulnerable groups;
  
• To challenge perpetrators of these offences to change their behaviour;
  
• To engage actively with men and boys in the discourse about combating violence in our homes, our communities and in the workplace;
  
• To highlight the stories of survivors of gender-based violence and the impact that the campaign has had on their lives;
  
• To strengthen relationships beyond the South African borders with regards to the elimination of violence against women and children.
  
  
  
  To create awareness around the link between HIV/AIDS and gender-based violence.

The Campaign Mechanism

South Africans are called to support the campaign by utilising the white ribbon symbol in innovative and inventive ways to reflect solidarity. The white ribbon is synonymous with the campaign.

The "Torch of Peace" forms a link between the 16 Days of Activism Campaign and other major national campaigns that support the thematic programmes that underpin Government's national outreach activities.

Call To Action

The rights of women and children are fundamental human rights entrenched in and protected by the Constitution.  They are thus inalienable from, integral to and indivisible from the human rights framework. 

Gender-based violence in all its different guises is incompatible with the dignity and worth of the human person, and must be eliminated. Hence, the call to society is "Don't Look Away, Act Against Abuse."