People should not turn a blind eye to GBV – senior police officer
‘The police must also stop blaming victims of these crimes and must stop to be judges.
A senior police officer led the awareness campaign into the 16 Days of No Violence against Women and Children in Mamelodi.
Major-General Anna Sithole, provincial champion of the campaign, said it was important to educate the community about the scourge of gender-based violence crimes in Mamelodi.
Sithole led a massive awareness drive arranged by Women’s Network and Men for Change in the SAPS at Tshwane regional mall on Saturday.
During the campaign, a visit was arranged to a Mamelodi East orphanage, followed by the distribution of pamphlets at Tshwane regional mall, speeches and music.
The 16 Days campaign runs from November 25 to December 10, Human Rights Day.
In her address Sithole highlighted different forms GBV presented itself.
She said that the social crime prevention team should play an important role in educating the community about the scourge of these crimes.
“The police must also stop blaming victims of these crimes and must stop being ‘judges’,” said Sithole.
The Women’s Brigade and the CPF were also part of the awareness campaign and helped spread the message.
Residents shopping at the mall were encouraged to speak up against gender-based violence.
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They were told that anyone who abused women or children should be arrested and get a maximum sentence
The residents were also encouraged to speak in one voice and stand up against GBV.
Men for Change also appealed to men to start supporting women and not to abuse them.
The residents received pamphlets with messages encouraging everyone to break the silence regarding women, children and neighbours to start talking and say ‘no’ to gender-based violence.
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