16 Days of Activism
Commemorated annually from 25th November to the 10th of December, the 16 Days of Activism is a global call to raise awareness in opposing violence against women and children.
In South Africa the initiative began over a decade ago in 1999, making this year the campaign’s the 12th Anniversary. The country’s 16 Days of Activism campaign is also considered as the period within which the 365 Days Programme of Action and the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence, are intensified in order to create massive awareness of the problem and impact of violence against women and children in society.
In Gauteng, the 2011 campaign will be celebrated in a context where men have occupied their space in the prevention and elimination of Gender Based Violence.
The province is also finalizing the Strategy for the Engagement of Men and Boys in the Prevention of Gender Based Violence following the launch of the National Strategy in 2010. Since the beginning of this year, the Social crime Prevention and Victim Empowerment Unit of Gauteng Department of Health & Social Development undertook a consultative process where men’s organisations were engaged and made inputs into the provincial strategy.
The main aims of the Department’s campaign this year are as follows:
- To create awareness on Positive Fatherhood
- To launch the Gauteng strategy for Engagement of Men & Boys in Prevention of GBV
- To create awareness on “corrective rape” violations of lesbian women in communities of the province
- To support the Gauteng Regional Office of the Department of Justice & Constitutional Development in the launch of the provincial Restorative Justice Forum
GDHSD Activities around the 16 Days of Activism:
1) Positive Fatherhood concept and campaign
EVENT: Awareness Campaign
THEME: Men care enough to act
DATE: 08 December 2011
TIME: To be confirmed
VENUE: Hammanskraal (Tshwane District)
EVENT: Dialogue
THEME: Men care enough to act
DATE: 29 November 2011 – 06 December 2011
TIME: 10h00 – 17h00
VENUE: To be confirmed