Violence against women must end

TODAY is International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, known in South Africa as the start of 16 Days of Activism.

In theory, the next two weeks should publicise acts of violence against women so that citizens in this country can prevent it from happening in the future, protect the vulnerable and ensure the perpetrators are found, taken to court and punished accordingly.

However, in practice, it is more likely that the opinion pages and social media channels will instead be flooded with angry calls for the head of a few high-profile accused, along with sanctimonious pontificating by many in public office.

There are the well-known victims such as Reeva Steenkamp and survivors such as Avril Gordon and Alison Botha, but the vast majority will forever be anonymous. Names such as Anene Booysen and Lelona Fufu no longer grab headlines.

However, the violence is ongoing – a recent SA Medical Research Council study found more than one in three girl children in its research had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18, and one in two female murder victims had been killed by their male partners.

For too long the spotlight has been turned away from the perpetrator. Why is it that so many men in this country think it is acceptable to hurt and sexually assault women? We still don’t have the answer.

We do know that, for the 16 Days of Activism to have any meaningful impact at all, it is men in particular whose attitudes must change in our loved but deeply patriarchal country.

The Herald will play its part in generating awareness of the evil of violence against women. Specifically, our role as a watchdog means we must demand action from the police, the courts and the government, and report without fear or favour when injustice is found.

We can and must help to dispel myths such as “she asked for it” , “she deserved a beating”, “it wasn’t a violent rape”, “she was wearing a short skirt” and many more misconceptions.

Yes, these stories are not always palatable, but if we sweep the news of yet another child raped or yet another woman battered under the carpet, then we perpetuate those myths around domestic violence and sexual assault.