President Jacob Zuma has appealed to the courts to hand down harsh sentences to men who abuse women and children.
Speaking at the official launch of the 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children campaign‚ Zuma said violence against women and children could not be isolated or removed from the general problem of violence in the country.
Zuma was addressing over 600 people who had gathered at Naauwpoort village outside Mahikeng on Wednesday.
“Some people in our country tend to use violence to achieve their goals. We need to confront this problem and begin to eradicate the culture of violence‚” he said.
He said the country had laws designed to deal with violence against women and children such as the Domestic Violence Act‚ Sexual Offences Act and the Criminal Procedures Act which must be used to fight this scourge.
“The amendment of our criminal procedure law resulted in laws that restricted bail or demanded life sentence for accused persons and those found guilty of rape of young children‚” he said.
He said beyond the laws‚ government needed to look at socio-economic conditions that made women vulnerable.
Zuma said unemployment forced some women to remain in relationships that were not conducive to their health and wellbeing.
“If a woman depends on the abuser for housing and general living expenses‚ they are unlikely to act and report a violent partner to the police or to walk out on them to protect their lives and that of the children‚” Zuma said.
Lack of access to land‚ credit and finance were also seen as some of the factors that were making women victims.
Zuma said the advancement of economic empowerment of women was critical for the government to fight the scourge of abuse and violence.
He urged the private sector to ensure that the employment and advancement of women was prioritised.
“The attacks‚ abuse‚ rape and killing of women and children are cruel‚ inhumane and degrading.”
He called on women to report cases of abuse and violence. “Do not protect the perpetrators. Family members and neighbours must also work with the police to catch the culprits‚” he said.
Zuma calls for harsh sentences for women and child abusers
President Jacob Zuma has appealed to the courts to hand down harsh sentences to men who abuse women and children.
Speaking at the official launch of the 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children campaign‚ Zuma said violence against women and children could not be isolated or removed from the general problem of violence in the country.
Zuma was addressing over 600 people who had gathered at Naauwpoort village outside Mahikeng on Wednesday.
“Some people in our country tend to use violence to achieve their goals. We need to confront this problem and begin to eradicate the culture of violence‚” he said.
He said the country had laws designed to deal with violence against women and children such as the Domestic Violence Act‚ Sexual Offences Act and the Criminal Procedures Act which must be used to fight this scourge.
“The amendment of our criminal procedure law resulted in laws that restricted bail or demanded life sentence for accused persons and those found guilty of rape of young children‚” he said.
He said beyond the laws‚ government needed to look at socio-economic conditions that made women vulnerable.
Zuma said unemployment forced some women to remain in relationships that were not conducive to their health and wellbeing.
“If a woman depends on the abuser for housing and general living expenses‚ they are unlikely to act and report a violent partner to the police or to walk out on them to protect their lives and that of the children‚” Zuma said.
Lack of access to land‚ credit and finance were also seen as some of the factors that were making women victims.
Zuma said the advancement of economic empowerment of women was critical for the government to fight the scourge of abuse and violence.
He urged the private sector to ensure that the employment and advancement of women was prioritised.
“The attacks‚ abuse‚ rape and killing of women and children are cruel‚ inhumane and degrading.”
He called on women to report cases of abuse and violence. “Do not protect the perpetrators. Family members and neighbours must also work with the police to catch the culprits‚” he said.
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