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Stop this violence!

The recent stories of horrific violence against children, even the rape of babies, are sickening. They have shocked everyone and COSATU members are united in their determination to put an end to these outrages. The federation is playing its full part in the campaign of 16 days of activism against violence and abuse of women and children.

Violence against women is internationally recognised as a major human rights violation. It has severe physical and mental health consequences for the women and children involved. None of us can rest when women and children are beaten, molested, raped, tormented, brutalised or denied their rights to be protected and maintained by strangers, parents, or anyone for that matter.

According to the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, violence is any abusive or controlling act of gender-based violence that may result in physical, emotional or psychological harm or suffering, including threats, stalking, damage of property, coercion, intimidation, sexual harassment, whether public or private. It may involve or affect children directly or indirectly.

The 16-day campaign is being linked to the campaign for the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, which has a disproportional impact on women, often as a direct result of violence against them in the form of rape, which can cause both the women, and the baby that may result, to contract the virus.

Domestic Violence Act

The most immediate aim is to educate our members and communities about legislative and constitutional victories that we have made while struggling for gender equality.
The most important weapon in our hands is the Domestic Violence Act, which provides victims of violence with the right to be heard and protected and allowed freedom of choice and movement.

We need to educate our communities about women's constitutional and legal right to be protected by obtaining a protection order at the magistrates court, supreme court or designated minister or priest, which is intended to prevent the perpetrator from committing any act of domestic violence including entering the home where the victim is living or even her place of employment.

The Act allows for police to arrest abusers without a warrant and to seize firearms and other dangerous weapons.
It compels health workers, social workers, teachers or any person dealing with children, or who is aware of this abuse, to report the abuse immediately.
It clearly stipulates that a person can be convicted of domestic violence or marital rape, whether the parties are married or not.

But none of these provisions will mean anything if they are not enforced and it is up to every one of us to play our part in making people aware of their rights and helping them to claim them.

Challenge cultural norms that violate human rights.

The ultimate aim of the campaign is to bring about a shift in the mindset of our people and a change from the culture of violence. We have to challenge and deal with learned cultural norms, myths and stereotypes that perpetuate the violation of human rights.

It is important to understand why many women are reluctant to make use of the law intended for them because of both their socio-economic situation of dependency on men for their livelihood and the survival of cultural traditions which disempower, abuse and degrade women.

An example is "ukuthwala" - abducting women by force for marriage - as in the recent incident in Swaziland, where the King ordered the abduction of his tenth wife.
Women need to be educated about their right to challenge such acts in the courts and men must be educated to see that such acts are a violent assault on women's rights to freedom, dignity and independence.

Building the women's movement

COSATU has a leading role to play in achieving all this, because it represents the broadest spectrum of the population and has the potential to build a working class led women's movement with clear policies, which will shape the mindset of our society and take forward the struggle for women's emancipation.

If we are to succeed, we need to deal with the increasing fragmented organisations that deal with women and gender equality and join forces to work together to eradicate violence and promote human rights.
That is why the 16 days of activism is so important.