City weighs in on 16 Days of Activism against GBVF
According to a recent study between 25% and 40% of female respondents have experienced sexual and or physical intimate partner violence in their lives.
POLOKWANE – The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) awareness campaign starts nationwide on November 25 with the theme ‘Accelerating actions to end GBVF: leaving no one behind’, in a period that government and private institutions will make an effort to raise awareness.
According to a recent study by accredited research group Safer Spaces, between 25% and 40% of female respondents have experienced sexual and or physical intimate partner violence in their lives.
Against this backdrop, International Men’s Day will be commemorated on Sunday as a day when men discuss matters not limited to abuse, in an effort to improve gender relations and promoting gender equality.
On December 9, nationally acclaimed activists such Bishop Joshua Maponga III, will host men at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World for impactful conversations in the hope of alleviating issues including abuse at the hands of another gender emotionally, physically or otherwise. Social Development this week also facilitated men’s dialogues relating to the subject.
Meanwhile, some local academia argued that there is in fact, little uptake from some key government stakeholders when it presents data and recommendations on the matter, in request for immediate implementation.
A research, planning and development expert in government who prefers not to be named, said politicians – most of who occupy key positions that unlock money for the implementation of action plans – find the data presented not relatable or comprehensible, even when the findings or recommendations are considered effective by the researcher.
“It is advised that in publishing journals, researchers should also write simple policy briefs of a few pages which they can present to government for their strong findings on GBVF to have any effect,” they remarked.
Similarly, publicised national and provincial quarter crime statistics showing reported crimes at various police stations do not present any data on gender-based violence, which makes it difficult to gauge the scope of the crime.
Community members who Polokwane Observer engaged mostly held the view that such campaigns would only find effect if conducted throughout the year. We asked locals for their view on the 16 Days campaign:
