Free Women, Children From Abuse to Attain Global Peace
By Thapelo Sakoana

November 29, 2005 – (BuaNews) The world is far off from the goal of achieving global peace and security if women and children are still being subjected to abuse, says Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Sue van der Merwe.

The deputy minister was today speaking at the department's launch of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children campaign at the Union Buildings.

"The key to attaining our goal of consolidating the African agenda is in bringing about human security as well as freedom from physical harm," she said.

She urged the continent and the rest of the world to act against the abuse of women and children to bring about peace in the world.

Ms Van der Merwe said the African continent had in recent years seen women playing a critical role in enforcing change and development in their countries.

"In recent years, we have seen the women in the Great Lakes Region come together to forge their understanding of peace and unity, nation-building and post conflict reconstruction," she said.

The deputy minister also cited the recent election of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as symbolising women's potential and ability to lead.

President Johnson-Sirleaf was elected head of state of that country during elections that pitted her against former world champion footballer George Weah.

"As you might be aware, Liberia is still recovering from a painful past of human rights abuses with women and children as the victims of violence," she said.

Ms Van der Merwe said the people of the continent ought to salute the Liberians for turning the tide against autocracy and rebuilding their country from poverty, war and economic stagnation.

In Rwanda, she said, women fought for their rights and ratified the constitution thus allocating 30 percent of decision-making positions to women.

In this regard, she said South Africa had also seen significant progress in women representation in government and cabinet.

"These are only a few examples of progress on a continent where there has been substantial changes in recent years," she said.

Rwandan Ambassador to South Africa James Kimonyo said that country had in the past experienced violence against women and children especially during the genocide there.

"The perpetrators committed serious crimes and rape was a weapon of genocide," he said.

Mr Kimonyo said victims were commanded to walk naked in front of their perpetrators and they were then raped and killed.

"Children would be told [by the perpetrators] to take off their mothers' clothes and see as they were raped," he added.

The Ambassador was referring to the Rwandan genocide where about a million Tutsi's and moderate Hutu's were butchered, women raped and killed by the Hutu's in 100 days.

He said the situation had since turned around with police and the judiciary now clamping down on perpetrators especially those abusing women and children.

Meanwhile, the department of foreign affairs has introduced the "Peace Ambassadors" concept which is set to lure men to be at the forefront against the abuse of women and children.

South African Ambassador Mbulelo Rakwena said the initiative would comprise representatives from all branches in the department.

"We want to stop a situation where people cry alone in the dark corners. We want to promote a gender sensitive environment that accommodates women's needs," he said.

Ambassador Rakwena concluded that a detailed plan would be drafted for the initiative to run even beyond the 16 Days of Activism campaign.

From: http://allafrica.com/stories/200511291309.html