Orange Day launched in Free State, South Africa

30 August 2013

Over 800 women and men from Ngwathe Municipality, Heilbron in Free State Province (South Africa) gathered on 25 August 2013 to launch the Orange Day campaign in the Free State Province. Among others, the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Ms. Lulu Xingwana, Deputy Minister of Police, Honourable Maggie Sotyu and Dr Sadiq Syed, Officer-in-Charge of United Nations Women Multi Country Office, Premier of the Province, MCL, senior officials, representatives of the civil society and others attended the event.

Speaking at the event, Ms. Xingwana strongly condemned violence against women and girls in the Free State Province. ?South Africa belongs to all of us and violence against women and girls is not acceptable. We need government to institute tougher sentences for perpetrators of violence and there should be no parole for those who perpetrate violence against women and girls,? she emphasised.

DWCPD in South Africa remains committed to taking action on violence against women and girls. To make the Orange Day result based, during the Western Cape launch, the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities jointly with respective Departments and with UN Women undertook visits to survivors of violence, whose cases were reportedly not adequately addressed. The visits and interactions with the survivors, residents, government and civil society also helped understand the extent of violence against women and girls in Free State Province, its causes and the possible gaps that need to be addressed by justice and social services sectors.

Deputy Minister of Police, Maggie Sotyu in her remarks called on the population to come forward in reporting the cases of Violence Against Women and Girls and expressed her department?s readiness to take action including assistance to survivors through coordinated action and support from other departments.

Dr Sadiq Syed, Officer-in-Charge of UN Women in South Africa quoted the glaring statistics of violence against women and girls, which require concerted action.? He expressed appreciation to the Government for adapting the Secretary-General?s UNiTE Campaign and the Orange Day towards Ending Violence against Women and Girls. ?The campaign calls on everyone to wear something orange on the 25^th of every month to highlight that violence against women and girls is a violation of human rights and call for its eradication without reservation, equivocation or delay?, Dr Sadiq emphasized.? He also highlighted the role of men in prevention and response and called upon Women and Men to work together for greater gender equality and prevention of violence against women and children.? This means that men's awareness needs to be raised concerning the causes and results of their attitudes and actions on the people in their lives for the benefit of all, he added.

In addition, legislators and senior officials of the province also delivered message and strongly advocated for promotion and protection of women?s rights. The launch is one of the nine Orange Day Campaign launches that the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities jointly with Provincial Government and with support of UN Women and other agencies will be hosting in the nine provinces of South Africa. So far, the campaign has been launched in the Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal, Limpopo, Western Cape, and Free State Provinces.

The overarching aim of Orange Day is to bring one of the most pervasive forms of human rights violations to the forefront of the public?s attention, highlighting the need to all to take action against a growing and horrific epidemic.

On the day, the Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities and yjr Deputy Minister of Police, accompanied by South African Police, Social Services, Health, National Human Rights Commission and other representatives undertook visits to the residences of survivors of rape and reviewed the prevention and response measures by various departments and issued appropriate directions including arrest of suspects and effective counseling and rehabilitation for survivors and family members.

The program was followed by questions and testimonies by survivors and family members. The Ministers present provided responses and took note of cases for follow-up. In her closing remarks, Xingwana encouraged the community to take action to end violence against women and girls and to ensure that every 25^th of the month, they observe Orange Day and always stand up against abuse. She also called for life sentences for those who murder and abuse women and girls in South Africa.

The launch included the signing of a pledge for the federal government to enter into commitments with provincial governments to prevent and respond to abuse in their respective provinces.

Source: http://saynotoviolence.org/around-world/news/orange-day-launched-free-state-south-africa

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