NEWS FLASH                                                                                                06 December 2001

WOMEN ARE URGED TO SPEAK OUT

The Provincial Administration Western Cape’s (PAWC) Chief Directorate Human Rights Programmes and Poverty Relief is urging women of all ages and cultures to say, “Enough is enough” and to speak out against gender abuse.

This follows the plea to the public to sign a pledge recommitting the government and people of the Western Cape in the fight against gender violence and following recent widespread press reports of further brutal attacks on elderly woman and spate of recent rapes of babies and young women.

“Women must break the culture of silence on child molestation, sexual harassment in the workplace, rape, and violence against women, the disabled, youth and the elderly,” said Joe Eder, Director of the Chief Directorate Human Rights Programmes and Poverty Relief at PAWC.

“Women have become double victims by being robbed of their right to live a life free from the threat of intimidation, violence and abuse in any form.

“Through partnerships with various role-players we have to claim that right by actively campaigning for equality and justice, by insisting that we get full and equal protection under the law and that sufficient mechanisms are in place to ensure our greater safety and wellbeing,” said Joe Eder, Director of the Chief Directorate Human Rights Programmes and Poverty Relief at PAWC.

The International 16 days of Activism against Gender Violence will culminate on Monday 10 December 2001 at 12h00 with a City march starting at Keizergracht. This is also International Human Rights Day.

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