Violence Against Women
Source: Sowetan
WITH an assortment of unsavoury news on the apparent low regard for the dignity of women and girl children, the world must be wondering what sort of nation South Africa is becoming.
Gender-based violence, lately involving teenage boys, is a disconcerting blight on the country. Examples include the sexual attack by seven teenage boys on a 17-year-old mentally ill girl, the alleged rape of a teenage girl by a medical doctor at a North West hospital. This was one of several such violations in the province over the past six months.
What is more, young women wearing miniskirts have become fair game at South Africa's major taxi ranks.
It is therefore gratifying that Minister for Women, Children and People with Disabilities Lulu Xingwana has called for Southern African countries to develop a comprehensive and integrated approach to end gender-based violence.
As a trendsetting move of positive sorts, Xingwana has also announced that the cabinet has approved the creation of a national council against gender-based violence, to be launched in August under the chairmanship of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe.
Violence against women is still at crisis levels throughout Southern Africa, and is at its worst in South Africa, hence the urgency in addressing the scourge.
Xingwana has called for research, debates and other tangible public discourses on this violence, in addition to what she has termed "effective communications strategies to inform and educate communities on the laws to combatgender-based violence".
All South Africans should participate in finding solutions to such a poser. Affected women and girls are scarred for life. Their families are also hurt.
For far too long interventions have been left to the politicians and other community leaders. The most effective social unit is the family. Young boys and girls do not pluck unsuitable social attitudes and behaviours from the sky.
Adults hold the key. Youths are impressionable. Monkey see, monkey do can be dangerous, and like an unattended sore, it festers.
A simple return to basics, starting with responsible parenting. This will help ensure that the interventions including the national council against the violence, related research campaigns and communications strategies help restore the dignity of our women and girl children. This way, we will truly be Africa's beacon.