media releases - Unisa and MRC launch 16 days of activism

UNISA INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
&
MRC-UNISA CRIME, VIOLENCE & INJURY LEAD PROOGRAMME

16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children
25 November 2008

The horrific number of rape and murder cases in the country, ensures that the prevention of violence against women and children remains high on the public health agenda.

The University of South Africa’s Institute for Social and Health Sciences and its partner the MRC-UNISA Crime, Violence and Injury Lead Programme has for several years collaborated with communities in Johannesburg and Cape Town, as well as civil society and other role-players, in numerous campaigns and activities to prevent violence against women and children, and prioritise safety as a human right.

In South Africa, the 16 days of activism campaign for no violence against women and children is intended to create awareness and advocate that violence against women and children, whether it happens at home or elsewhere, is a human rights violation.

This year’s event is a round-table dialogue, to be held on Tuesday, 25 November 2008 at the Don Mateman Hall in Eldorado Park, Extension 5. The event is to be attended by a broad spectrum of organisations, activists and community members, and will invite a critical review of the issue of violence against women and children, consider existing responses on violence against women and children, and develop resolutions for the way forward.

The event will be opened by Prof. Kopano Ratele of the UNISA Institute for Social & Health Sciences, whose scholarly interests include the areas of violence and fatal injuries, men and masculinities, and psychology.
Guest speakers include Lisa Vetten from Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, Sima Vallaph of the NISAA Institute for Women's Development, local ward councillors, and a representative from the South African Police Service.

The South African Police Service reports that 36 190 cases of rape and 6 763 cases of indecent assault were reported between April and December 2007. While there has been a decline from numbers reported for April-December 2006, this is a country still in the middle of a war against its women and children. Add to these figures, the 18 487 cases of murders, 18 795 cases of attempted murder, 210 104 cases of assault with the intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, and 198 049 cases of common assaults reported between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008, South Africa is a leader amongst the most unsafe countries in the world for its citizens and guests, most of whom are the very people in need of protection and care from the state, organisations, families and all of us.

For further information, please contact:

Prof. Kopano Ratele
Acting Director: UNISA Institute for Social and Health Sciences & MRC-UNISA Crime, Violence and Injury Lead programme
Tel: 011 857 1142
Fax: 011 857-1770
Email: ratelk@unisa.ac.za