The Inkatha Freedom Women’s Brigade calls on government to hold an urgent summit aimed to create momentum against sexual violence after an 11 year old girl was raped by her teacher at one of the schools in KwaMaphumulo.
“We can no longer sit back and wait for the “16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children” campaign to start before we speak out about sexual violence. Rapists do not give women and children any chance as they do prey on them every day of the year. The protection of women and children must be a 365 days project and not for specific days. We have to do much more to end these horrible abuses and challenge the impunity that allows these human rights violations to continue. We must all agree that the time for complacency is long gone, has passed and belongs to another era. Now is the time for stronger action,” said IFP National Chairperson of the Women’s Brigade, Mrs Thembeni Madlopha Mthethwa.
“Violence against women and girls is an extreme manifestation of gender inequality and systematic gender-based discrimination. The right of women and children to live free of violence depends on the protection of their human rights and a strong chain of justice. We also demand that rapists must be punished severely. They should be punished for life and have longer sentences handed down to them. No rapist should get away lightly,” continued Mrs Madlopha Mthethwa.
“We need political will, and we need to treat this scourge as a priority. We need to see real commitment to go after the perpetrators. This summit should be a turning point in addressing sexual violence,” concluded Mrs Madlopha-Mthethwa.
Issued by:
Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa MPL
National Chairperson of the IFP Women’s Brigade
071 884 3844 or 079 114 3015