National Assembly Cape Town: 22 November 2007  

Every couple of seconds a woman is raped and her rights are violated in South Africa. Every few seconds a child is raped or molested in South Africa. The Law Reform Commission estimated that there is as many as 1, 7 million rapes in our country every year, but only a small fraction of that number is reported to the police. 

It is sickening to think that serial killers can call on the best legal defence and that rapists often appear to have more rights than the victims. 

Where is this situation taking us as South Africans? We have to question whether this is the democracy we fought for. Surely, we did not fight apartheid only to be brutally murdered and attacked by people who have no respect for life in our democracy? Every day innocent souls are being bought and sold or tricked into slavery. Women and children are shipped far from the safety of their homes and end up exploited as slaves or worse. 

My party's message is simple. Men of South Africa - change your attitudes and behavior towards women and children now! 

Treat women and children with respect and dignity. Value their lives and the contribution they make to society. 

Imagine if, for 16 days, there was no rape, no child abuse, no sexual harassment, no emotional abuse and no human trafficking. South Africa will be at peace and harmony.  

But, even 16 days of such peace and harmony is not enough. No, we say let us have a campaign of 365 days of activism against women and child abuse. Let us commit to a year-round rolling campaign without end to get rid of this scourge forever. 

The IFP strongly believes that respect and concern for human rights, including the rights of the child and equality between men and women, must be at the foundation of a communal response to violence against women and children. 

Hence this year's 16 days of activism campaign must promote human rights and fundamental freedoms in relation to violence against women and children so that they can fully enjoy life and the rights guaranteed by our Constitution. 

The IFP pledges solemnly to do everything we can to end violence against women and children and to especially work on the attitudes of our men.

I thank you.