1 in 9 started 16 days with exhibition of women abuses

By Nthateng Mhlambiso (BTM Senior Reporter)

SOUTH AFRICA – 28 November 2008: The 16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign started Tuesday 25 November with 1 in 9 Campaign launching an exhibition at Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, that explores the role of women’s resistance in the struggle for social justice and gender equality.

Titled Wildfire: Frontiers of Women’s Resistance, the exhibition focuses on key rape cases in South Africa and provides an insight into the strategies and actions undertaken by the campaign to enhance women rape survivors’ rights when dealing with the criminal justice system.

Speaking at the launch, Carrie Shelver of People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) said that 1in 9 Campaign might be a drop in the ocean but its work is a mark of what still needs to be done in order to achieve social justice for women.

Representing Constitution Hill, Mxolisi Dlamuka condemned acts of rape, disrespect for the elderly and the killing of children – issues that he says have been ravaging the country in present years.

“At Constitution Hill, our theme for 16 days is that we care. We care for vulnerable people who have been victims of men’s manipulation. We care to say this can stop and it won’t take a decade for it to stop. We care to say that this kind of violence does not belong in this country”, he cautioned.

As the event was well attended by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community, Dlamuka’s speech was well placed as he highlighted that lesbian women who are being targeted for hate crime because of their sexual orientation should intensify their struggle to claim their space in the society at this time.

Speaking about 1 in 9 Campaign, which was formed out of research that says 1 out of 9 women is raped, executive director of POWA Delphine Serumaga said it is not just a host but a guardian of something very important to women’s rights.

“1 in 9 is not just 26 organisations that are working apart but 26 organisations that continuously fight for rights of women because in every sphere of a woman’s life there is violence.”

Serumanga also warned of the political paradigm shift taking place in South Africa today insinuating that it might impact on women’s rights in the country. “There is likelihood of the new presidency, and we must pay attention to what is going on because there is a likely misogyny and we will have to fight back”, she warned.

This launch not only targeted attendants,  but also government members as there were post cards that were to be filled by attendants whose messages were to be subsequently sent to ministers of Justice and Constitution Development and Safety and Security.

Meanwhile the Joint Working Group (JWG) has called upon all South Africans to use the 16 days as a period to remember LGBTI victims of gender based violence and hate crime.

“At the same time we must remember all other victims of violence, abuse and prejudice in our country. We call for 16 days to be used as an opportunity to call for justice for the victims of hate crime, for Sizakele Sigasa and Salome Masooa in whose case no arrests have ever been made”, the JWG said in a statement.

The JWG also acknowledged the ‘violence and suffering’ faced by LGBTI people in Africa. “They suffer violence and abuse not only at the hands of criminals but often also from the institutions of their states.”

“We call on all South Africans and specifically the LGBTI community to engage with 16 Days activities [to] demand justice for victims of violence and prejudice [and] say no to hate, violence, homophobia and all other forms of prejudice”, the JWG concluded.