FAWU CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN

FAWU CONDEMNS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND CHILDREN The Food and Allied Workers’ Union strongly condemns the series of gender-based violence (GBV) and crimes against children that has reached outrageously alarmingly numbers in South Africa. More should be done to improve the justice system and seeing perpetrators locked up behind bars for good. Many believe that imprisonment in SA seems to be an ineffective deterrent of violent crimes against vulnerable women and children. In fact, the current prison system incarcerates offenders and provides them with free food, accommodation and opportunities to further studies. Too often it has been found that released prisoners resort back to criminal activities. South Africa is a society with unique characteristics that needs unique ways of solving its problems. Communities are tired of living in fear of falling victim to gender-based violence and murder. The system needs to change in order for would-be offenders to actually change violent behaviour. Rehabilitation is a reactionary, long -term measure with no guarantees of success. Our people seek action from government now. Sixteen days of activism is no longer sufficient to campaign against gender-based violence. We need to see these campaigns all year-long in our deeply-rooted patriarchal societies, especially in vulnerable and isolated communities such as those in rural areas and on farms. Domestic violence on farms is an all too common occurrence on farms and we believe that the government needs to roll out special awareness programmes specifically directed at farm dwellers and rural communities in remote areas. Such campaigns also needs to take front and center stage at all learning, religious and social institutions targeting boys and males from an early age so that they become conscious about it early on life. We should not assume that these things are taught to kids by their families as many grow up experiencing abuse in their own households and accept it as normal. Young women and female children should be taught to identify the symptoms of abusive relationships from an early age so that they are able to recognise this type of behaviour as a potential harmful threat. There is too much emphasis currently on reactionary measures while we really need to think and act ahead if we are serious about eradicating violence in the country.