COPE calls for 365 Days of Activism

Published Nov 26, 2015

Share

Polokwane - The North West’s Congress of the People (COPE) firmly believes that the country’s 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children should be a year-long campaign.

COPE spokesperson Kenneth Maduna said on Wednesday: “The Congress of the People in the North West province support and welcome the kickoff of the 16 days of activism for no violence against women and children campaign.”

Concerned at the high levels of violence directed against women and children, Maduna said: “We strongly feel that this campaign shouldn’t only be for 16 days, but for 365 days.”

He, however, noted that it is not just women and children who experience violence and abuse, but also men.

Many men he added, do not report cases of violence and abuse against them because of “pride and shame.”

Maduna urged men who were subjected to violence and abuse to come forward and tell their story. He also encouraged children who were victimised by bullying to “report bully behaviour” because it was not acceptable.

Noting that this year’s theme is “Count me in: Together moving a non-violent South Africa Forward”, he said all victims of violence and abuse should not remain silence about their pain and step forward.

“We as COPE North West take a stand against the abuse of men, women and children.”

ANA

* Use IOL’s Facebook and Twitter pages to comment on our stories. See links below.

Related Topics: