16 days events: Media Advisory

Date: Wednesday 26^th November

Venue: Constitution Hill, Jail Number 4

Time: 18h00 – 20h00

 

This year’s I stories will be launched at the sidelines of a conference on domestic violence: “South African Domestic Violence Act: Lessons from a Decade of Legislation and Implementation” The conference is being hosted by CSVR working with other Gender NGOs.

 

‘I’ stories are part of an annual series of first hand accounts  of mostly women and some cases men who have experienced abuse directly or have in some way been touched by gender violence.  In the past one regional booklet has been produced each year. This year four countries (Mauritius, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland) have produced country specific ‘I’ stories booklets and will be launched in-country.

 

As part of the conference programme being attended by several regional guests, the ‘I’ Stories launch will take place at the opening of an exhibition of gender NGOs materials and conference dinner. Mmatshilo Motsei a veteran activist will be a guest speaker.

Date: Saturday 29 November

Venue: Vosloorus, Lesedi Shopping Complex, MC Botha Drive, Parking space opposite Eskom

Time: 17h30 to 20h30

 

Communities, activists and local and national government authorities will be reclaiming unsafe spaces in localities through “Take Back the Night” a global campaign started in Latin America. This year, as in the previous year, the march is being hosted by Ekurhuleni metro in partnership with Gender Links and Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA). High profile speakers include the mayor, speaker, national and provincial politicians. Ekurhuleni is one of the few councils that has developed and is implementing a 365 day action plan to end gender violence, inspired by the national action plan to end gender violence launched in March 2006.

  

3)     Cyber dialogues: Cyber dialogues are online real time facilitated cyber chats linking South Africa with 13 SADC countries on several themes around gender violence through out the Sixteen Days on selected dates below. GL, working with Government Communication and Information System (GCIS), Ekurhuleni and GEMSA will host face to face debates on topical issues, followed by cyber dialogues.

 

Face to face discussion: 11h00- 12h00

Cyber Dialogue: 12h00-13h00.     

 

24 November: Taking Stock, Constitution Hill

25 November: International Day of No Violence against Women

28 November: Human trafficking

1 December: World AIDS Day

2 December: Making IT work for gender justice

3 December: International Day of the Disabled

4 December: Taxi violence, public transport violence

5 December: Gender violence and elections

9 December: Gender based violence and xenophobia

10 December: International Human Rights Day,

           

Date: 4 December

Venue: Ekurhuleni Metro, Corner Crosses and Roses, Ground Floor Auditorium, Germiston

Time: 9h00-14h00

 

Gender Links has embarked on an initiative to create an audio CD with music and messages (including radio spots) about gender violence to promote dialogues on gender violence experienced when women use public transport. A pre-workshop was held on 20 November with survivors of gender violence, people working in the taxi industry, local government and other stakeholders to record the spots. The CD will be launched on 4 December and will be followed by a cyber dialogue at Ekurhuleni Metro. It will bring together over 100 people from the community, taxi industry, provincial and national departments and NGOs to debate the issue of gender violence and public transport.  

Date: 9 December

Venue: Ekurhuleni Metro, Corner Crosses and Roses, Ground Floor Auditorium, Germiston

Time: 10h00 – 13h00

 

Gender Links working with Ekurhuleni Metro will screen short films on violence against non-nationals as a way of promoting peace within communities.  This will be followed by discussions and cyber dialogue (12h00-13h00). See fact sheet 9.

 

Date: 10 December

Venue: Constitution Hill, Women’s Gaol, Braamfontein

Time: 8.30 – 14.00

Key activities: Launch of 365 Day 2009 Calendar

                   Media Literacy graduation

                   Cyber dialogue

                       

On Human Rights Day Gender Links will launch a 365 day 2009 Calendar as a tool that can be used in homes and in otherwise private spaces to promote messages on ending gender violence. The calendar also takes forward the campaign that has gained momentum to stretch 16 days of Activism to 365 Days of Action so that every day is an opportunity to work at ending GBV.

 

On the same day women and men who have been attending a Media Literacy course hosted by Gender Links, will be graduating whilst also showcasing their projects at this event.  Media Literacy is intended to create citizens who are able to critique the media with a gender lens and become active consumers. Thus they are able to either praise the media when they do well but also raise complaints when they are not happy with what they see in the media. 

 

This will be followed by a regional cyber dialogue at 12h00-13h00 linking SA with other SADC countries.

 

 

For more information on all the above please go to: https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=452

Fact sheets can be found on our resource page: https://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=283

For further information please phone: GL Gender Justice Manager on Loveness on 084 365 6930 or Adjoa Osei-Asibey on 011 622 2877