THE annual 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which starts from 25 November to 10 December has started.
The campaign sheds light on the profound repercussions of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) on women, children, and the social fabric of our society.
Police Minister Bheki Cele indicated that Mzansi recorded at least 6 945 deaths during update on the Second Quarter Crime Statistics 2023/2024 on November 14, and out of the people killed during this reporting period, 881 were women and 293 were children.
Further in his address, Cele said children have not been spared from the brutal attacks and abuse.
In the same period, 361 incidents of attempted murder and 1 820 of Assault GBH were perpetrated against children.
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Where rape is concerned, at least 10 516 rape incidents were reported between July to September this year.
The United Nations define the term gender-based violence as a violence often serves to maintain structural gender inequalities, and includes the victimization.
In this case towards women and children.
1.Intimate partner violence refers to behaviour by an intimate partner or ex-partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours.
2.Sexual violence any sort of harmful or unwanted sexual behaviour that is imposed on someone.
3.Femicide is the intentional killing of a woman or a girl because she is a woman or a girl.
4.Human trafficking is a global crime that trades in people and exploits them for profit.
5.Female genital mutilation (FGM) refers to all procedures involving partial or total removal of the female external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
6.Child marriage is any marriage where at least one of the parties is under 18 years of age.
7. Technology-facilitated violence against women
According to Mara Glennie, founder of non-profit organisation TEARS Foundation, women and children are seen and treated as second class citizens in Mzansi.
Glennie said this is because they are discriminated against, taken advantage of and when they are able to stand up to their abuser or ask for help, they are dismissed or ignored.
She emphasised that while Government is forever acknowledging the pandemic that is ‘gender-based violence’, there seems to be little actual work seen on the ground.
In respect on that, she holds citizens accountable in working together to create a safer non-judgmental spaces where people can come forward share their stories and ask for help while the government focus on following through especially the legal side if things
