He4She Campaign ended on a high note

The He4She campaign hosted by the Roman Catholic Church ended on a high note when speakers all agreed that they will all join hands in the ‘fight’ against the abuse of women and children.

The main day of the campaign ended on Saturday, December 10 at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Ackerville after days of build-ups leading to the main day. Different stakeholders were part during the activities. A gala dinner held at the Landau Recreation Club concluded the campaign.

ANC chief whip at the national parliament Mr Jackson Mthembu during his keynote address. He was speaking during the He4She Campaign held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Ackerville on Saturday, December 10.

The He4She campaign is a global effort by the United Nations to engage men and boys in removing the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their potential and thus together positively reshaping society.

The achievement of gender equality requires an inclusive approach that recognises the crucial role of men and boys as partners for women’s rights and as having needs of their own in the formulation of that balance. The He4She Campaign invites men and boys to build on the work of the women’s movement as equal partners in the crafting and implementation of a shared vision of gender equality that will benefit all of humanity.

Archbishop William Slattery from the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) adding his voice in the He4She Campaign held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Ackerville on Saturday, December 10.

Ms Ayanda Mvimbi from the United Nations Women on Gender Equality Programme adding her message of support towards the campaign.

“Since the launch of the campaign at the United Nations, on September 20, 2014, by the Executive Director of UN Women, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, hundreds of thousands of men from around the world including heads of states, CEO’s, universities, cultural workers and global luminaries from all walks of life have committed to gender equality.”

ANC chief whip at the national parliament Mr Jackson Mthembu in his keynote address said he wants to be counted in the campaign against the abuse of women and children. He also made an undertaking that he will invite all the members of parliament including all the chief whips in provincial and local government to support the campaign.

He said will encourage other men to support the campaign with body and soul. Mr Mthembu also added to say that God created women and men equally. He also quoted from former president Nelson Mandela who said that good men always take a stand against the abuse of women and children.

“It should be men who must take a stand, fathers, uncles, and brothers must not lay a hand on women and children. Men need to speak to themselves and we need to stop the abuse of women and children, we need to stand side by side with them and pledge to protect them,” said Mthembu

Reverend Bafana Khumalo addressing about abuse in the community

Mthembu further called for the state to take action against abusers. He reminded the people about the UN Charter, African Charter on Women, Human Rights and the rise of gender based violence cases.

“The state must protect our women, men need to take action and speak out against the abuse of women. This is a call for men to take action and support the He4She Campaign and be counted against the abuse of women and children,” ended Mthembu.

Archbishop William Slattery from the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) in adding his voice in the He4She Campaign said that men are not here to support the campaign. He added to say that Jesus helped different people and women in the bible played different and important roles. He urged the people to see Christ in every person of their lives.

“Men should treat women with respect; the Catholic Church is working hard to reach out to women in need. The church must begin to teach new messages to our women. We need to support such initiatives; we need to talk about relationships, basic laws of Christ, neglect, trafficking and other issues related to women and children.

ANC chief whip at the national parliament Mr Jackson Mthembu signing a pledge during the He4She Campaign held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Ackerville on Saturday, December 10.

Reverend Bafana Khumalo, Chief magistrate in the province, Ms Ayanda Mvimbi from United Nations Women Programme on Gender Equality Programme, Mr Adam Ndobe of Men’s Forum and Inkosi Maphila 11 also added their messages of support towards the campaign.

In the South African context, the United Nations have partnered with the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference (SACBC) to launch the He4She campaign against gender based violence. It was launched in Mpumalanga on August 22, 2015 in Nelspruit. This event of international significance will form part of the national discourse of social cohesion and healing and took an interfaith character thus emphasizing the need for tolerance, respect for human dignity and peace amongst people in the country.

Leaders from various churches and religious organisations, heads of corporations, academics, members of parliament and legislature, councillors, traditional leaders, non-governmental organisations and cultural activists later signed a pledge thus making a commitment against gender based violence.

“Men were invited to take a position to lead in the campaign and speak to men and boys about the importance of standing up and being counted. We want them to use their positions to create irreversible change in society and that those leaders like them and their workforce will never be part of those deadly statistics of violence,” read a statement from HE4She.

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