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Welcome to 16 days of hand wringing November 25, 2020 Hi there, The 16 days campaign is a global cam
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Welcome to 16 days of hand wringing [View this email in your browser]( November 25, 2020
[Mail & Guardian]( [Mail & Guardian]( [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [YouTube]( Hi there, The 16 days campaign is a global campaign launched in 1998 by the United Nations, which takes place annually from 25 November International Day of No Violence against Women) to 10 December (International Human Rights Day). With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, all forms of violence against women have increased because of several factors, creating a âshadow pandemicâ, according to the UN. Women and girls are required to isolate at home during lockdowns, sometimes with abusers, and financial burdens plus tight living quarters are putting more households under emotional stress. Whatâs more, strained health and social services and lack of transport are making it more difficult for survivors to access important resources or help. As we grapple with this reality, bail conditions for a senior Mpumalanga ANC member accused of raping his twin children have been relaxed to allow him more time to do work for the governing party in the province. The former MEC is out on R20 000 bail and is expected to be back in the dock early next year after the Nelspruit magistrates courtâs decision on Tuesday. The provincial executive committee member was arrested in September, after the incident was reported to police in July. âTaking into consideration that one of the conditions of bail was to report to the police station every Friday, now heâs going to report once a month. The matter has been postponed to 21 January 2021 for the director of public prosecutionâs decision,â NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said. In response to the call for an end to gender-based violence (GBV) in the country last year, President Cyril Ramaphosa allocated a budget specifically to deal with the issue, and initiated a national strategic plan aimed at eradicating GBV in the next five years. Earlier this month Ramaphosa, who has on a number of occasions this year referred to GBV as the âsecond pandemicâ, called for a [national period of mourning]( to commemorate the lives lost to GBV and Covid-19 as part of this yearâs 16 Days campaign. To further this sentiment, the president used his newsletter to highlight the importance of the campaign and note the ways in which GBV affects the country. During the five days of mourning, from today until Sunday, the national flag will fly at half-mast from 6am until 6pm, every day, and citizens are encouraged to wear a black arm band or black clothing to show solidarity. It is unlikely that any action will be taken by Ramaphosa in his capacity as the leader of the ANC. What is apparent, however, is that South African women continue to suffer at the hands of men. We should be grateful the president deigned to make encouraging noises, in a platitudinous newsletter, about how GBV is a scourge. Forget about action. Yours in solidarity
Kiri Rupiah & Luke Feltham [Subscribe now]( Copyright © 2020 Mail & Guardian Media LTD, All rights reserved.
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