LIFELINE Zululand will be creating awareness on gender based violence and promoting their Thursdays in Black campaign to end violence and rape during the annual 16 Days of Activism campaign.
The campaign encouraging ‘No Violence Against Women and Children’ is held from 25 November to 5 December but LifeLine Zululand will kick off their awareness on Thursday at the Boardwalk Inkwazi Shopping Centre.
Zululand LifeLine Director Michelle Jewlal said their organisation will be at the shopping centre every Thursday until 7 December distributing awareness pamphlets.
Jewlal believes promoting an end to abuse and violence should be an ongoing drive as it is a 365 days a year challenge.
The organisation had heeded the previous KZN Premier Senzo Mchunu’s call to promote the 365 days provincial action plan, to mobilise communities to end violence throughout the year, and is championing their Thursdays in Black, a campaign aimed at working towards a world without rape and violence.
Gender based violence is a universal and global issue that harms men, women and children in their most private spheres.
‘Every Thursday people around the world wear black as a symbol of strength and courage, representing our solidarity with victims and survivors of violence and calling for a world without rape.
‘Wearing black shows that you are tired of putting up with violence, and calls for communities where we can all walk safely without fear of being beaten up, verbally abused, raped and discriminated against.
‘We encourage the public to support this initiative and wear something black every Thursday.
‘Often there is disparity between roles and responsibilities of men and women, and social structures and values contribute to the stigma attached to norms surrounding equality between males and females and this is why more awareness must be created regarding gender based violence,’ said Jewlal.
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