Start opposing abuse at home
THE 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children is a sobering reminder to all of us that the rampant abuse of women and children in this country cannot continue unchallenged.
Often termed the rape capital of the world by gender activists, whom we often dismiss as alarmists, the levels of domestic violence and femicide in South Africa are a source of shame and a blot on the fabric of our transforming society.
Recent crime statistics highlight that our daughters, sisters, mothers and wives are now more prone to become statistics of this painful violation than ever before.
More than 12 000 rape cases were reported last year, according to the latest statistics. Shockingly this figure pertains only to reported cases as this social malady is much more widespread than is apparent, with many cases going unreported. A study by the South African Medical Research Council indicates that a third of South African men have committed some form of sexual assault.
Even grandmothers are not spared this social plague. There have been several cases of grannies in their 80s being raped by perpetrators young enough to be their grandchildren.
We also observe World Aids Day and Universal Children s Day during this period which serve as a tacit reminder of these allied issues.
The link between the abuse and disempowerment of women and HIV infection rates is well known as women from poor backgrounds cannot always negotiate their protection or make sole decisions based on their reproduction choices.
Despite the gloom, the good news announced by Dr Aaron Motsoaledi this week that people infected with HIV need to take only one pill a night from April next year must be celebrated. The cheap anti-retroviral will cost up to R90 for a month s supply. More people will be able to afford it and this will make treatment more accessible and easier to adhere to.
This year s theme of the 16 days is From peace in the home to peace in the world ”, to rouse all of us to commence with our concern in our own families. If we can clean up the rot in our homes, we can be empowered to start sweeping up the moral decay in our community.