Without women, society will crumble

TODAY marks the start of Women’s Month and August 9 is Women’s Day. Let us not forget the true significance of August 9.

Inaugurated in 1994, when South Africa attained democracy, Women’s Day celebrates the political strength, female solidarity and inner fortitude of women who took part in the 1956 march led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Albertina Sisulu and Sophia Williams-De Bruyn to protest against the racist law that required blacks to carry a “pass”, which restricted their freedom of movement.

More than 20 000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria where they delivered a petition containing more than 100 000 signatures at prime minister JG Strijdom’s offices.

The month of August is annually dedicated to the celebration of the achievements of women and to promote their freedom and social and economic equality.

Each day, more than 2 billion women awaken with the daunting task of engaging, surviving, growing, thriving, collaborating, competing and getting the job done in a male-dominated world.

This patriarchal system has prevailed for over 6 000 years.

In almost every corner of importance to mankind, whether it be religion, government, business or politics, men have dominated and excluded women from playing a meaningful and valuable role.

Although the balance is slowly shifting, it’s still a big mountain to climb before women have a level and equal playing field. Gender inequality still prevails.

Women work two-thirds of the world’s working hours and produce half of the world’s food, yet earn only 10% of the world’s income.

Two-thirds of children denied primary education are girls and 75%of the world’s 876 million illiterate adults are women.

More than half a million women die in pregnancy and childbirth every year: of these deaths, 99% are in developing countries.

Domestic violence is the biggest cause of injury and death to women worldwide.

Violence against women takes many forms – physical, sexual, economic and psychological – but all of these represent a violation of human dignity and human rights.

Such abuse has lasting consequences both for women themselves and for their communities.

Every day, women are murdered, physically and sexually assaulted, threatened and humiliated by their partners, within their own homes.

It is estimated that in South Africa, about 150 women are raped every day and one out of every four women experiences domestic violence.

If you are a victim of violence, remember the law is on your side. There are obligations on police and courts to protect women and children as far as is possible from abuse.

You can open a criminal case against an abuser if you have suffered abuse, such as assault or rape, or you can apply for a protection order from the court.

If you are a witness to domestic violence against women and remain silent, you are helping to further the abuse.

Stand up, be bold and report the matter at the nearest police station.

When women marched on the bastions of apartheid power in 1956, they voiced their disgust and opposition in the words of a simple statement of power, authority and determination: “Wathint’ abafazi, wathint’ imbokodo.” (You Strike a Woman, You Strike a Rock.)

Just as rocks are useful weapons in time of conflict, they are more frequently used as the foundation stones of mighty edifices. Women are the foundation of society.