NGOs Launches Campaign Against Gender Violence
Tony Ekata, Johannesburg.
Non
Governmental Organisations in areas of gender violence in South
Africa have called on FIFA to use the forthcoming 2010
World Cup to send out strong
messages in support of the campaign to end gender violence, HIV
and AIDS.
In
a statement at the close of a three-day symposium convened by
the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, under
the banner, “We Can Prevent Violence”, the twenty-five
member organisation asked the South African government to
establish a special fund to end gender violence, in line with
regional and international commitments.
Coming on the occasion of the International Day of No
Violence Against Women, the
statement was released at a forum convened by Gender Links, on
the first day of the Sixteen Days of Activism Campaign - to take
stock of progress over the last year.
The Southern African Development Community Protocol on Gender
and Development, adopted by Heads of State in Johannesburg in
August 2008, sets a target of halving current levels of gender
violence by the Year 2015.
The NGOs have been commended for their efforts to prevent the
abuse of women and children.
Parliament hosted the Gender Commission and several community
organisations and paid tribute to the men and women who have
taken up the plight of vulnerable and abused women to ensure
they were protected from further violence.
Yinka
