NGO’s ARE A PREVAILING WEAPON TOWARDS 16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM INITIATIVE

By LuviwePinda

As we approach the 16 days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children, it is important that all non-government organisations take part in helping the victims, and give them support wherever they can. The campaign also includes the Universal Children’s Day and World Aids Day.

All churches across the country play a big role, and they’re regarded as the powerful weapon towards the initiative.

The campaign is supported by wearing a white ribbon, which symbolises peace, and commitment to never condone violence against women and children. Additionally, it helps us to realise how our own attitudes and actions could propagate sexism and violence. Rev Vukile Mngxuma of the John Wesley Methodist Church in Alice, under Aanshaw  Circuit, articulated on some of the circumstances they face such as this one, “In most instances, one or two people will come forward and request a session with the minister, due to reasons that they don’t want to come forward. They’ll rather hide it to themselves, and that becomes a major issue.”

Mngxuma also expressed that the most common concern, is the stigma that people have towards the victims, “The community will always have such comments, ‘she’s the girl that has been raped, what were we expecting, ‘she’s the woman that’s been abused by her husband!’

“The decisions, as a congregation, we mostly find difficult to take, is when a victim has been abused by a family member. We have to go on different straits when we approach for assistance within the communities, whether it could be the police, victim support centres or psychologists. There are often volunteers, who frequently assist with the victims.”