November 27th, 2019

​Mbabane: Civil society under the coordination of the Gender consortium, a gender-responsive structure under the Co-ordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental Organisations (CANGO), are all out to impact many lives of citizens against the ugly head of violence during the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign.

​The localised theme released by United Nations (UN) Women, is “Orange eSwatini: Generation Equality Stands with the Sexual Offenses and Domestic Violence Act”, in recognition of the landmark enactment of the SODV Act (2018) which comprehensively aims to address issues of gender-based violence.
 
Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence is an international campaign beginning every year on the 25th November 2019 to 10 December. It is a call to action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy, knowledge-sharing and the pursuit of innovative strategies for the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence.  
 
In order to decisively deal with high levels of gender-based violence, more actions are needed against rape, sexual violence, abuse. These in most instances are rooted in patriarchal beliefs, harmful practices of culture as well as power and control, amongst others. These breed the frequency of cases, both reported or unreported, impunity of perpetrators stigma attributed to survivors and silence.
 
Elimination strategies need to be put in place, prosecution, putting the victim first in ensuring they get assistance after traumatic experiences are needed with psychosocial support and therapy and awareness-raising are some of the actions needed for scale-up. In some instances, the consistent provision of these services is lacking because of inadequate finances. 
 
It’s incumbent on all of us that we need to each make a contribution but staying alert of our surrounding, reporting cases of violence to law enforcement agents, encourage speaking out against abuse and sympathy.
 
This campaign, pioneered by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 marks the importance of collaborative efforts towards eliminating gender-based violence, especially against women and children.

Activities
Significant international dates
25/11/19 - International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women;
29/11/19 - International Women Human Rights Defenders Day;
01/12/19 - December 1 – World AIDS Day;
05/12/19 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development;
06/12/19 - Anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, which is observed as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada, and;
10/12/19 - International Human Rights Day and the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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26 November 2019
Commemoration of Street Vendors Day. Though commemorated every year on the 14 November, to give signifiance to incorporating Street vendors'issues, it will be commemorated during 16 days on the 26th November 2019. Contact Women and the Law eSwatini: 
Zanele Thabede
2505 6343
zanethab@gmail.com

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Cyber Dialogues on #VoiceandChoice.
27/11/19 | Safe and legal abortion dialogue
28/11/19 | Menstrual health discussion
29/11/19 | Maternal Health
30/11/19 | HIV and AIDS
03/12/19 | Comprehensive sexual education and services
04/12/19 | Child Marriages
05/12/19 | Media as part of the solution
06/12/19 | Sexual diversity
10/12/19 | Pledging our commitments for 2019
For more information, contact:
Ms Ncane Maziya
Eswatini Country Director
7624 0486
swdlocalgvt@genderlinks.org.za /ncanemaziya@gmail.com

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05/12/19
Evening Session on Sexual Health and Pleasure at Happy Valley Hotel: 6pm, at a cost E380/ticket. For more information, contact:
Maxwell Dlamini
7618 5770
maxwell@flas.org.sz 

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District/Regional Street Campaign organised by Women and the Law (WLSA) eSwatini:
Catch street campaigns at towns near you on these dates: 
Wednesday 27 November 2019: in Manzini. Convening at 11h30 at WLSA Offices, Manzini;
Thursday 28 November 2019: Matsapha. Convening at Amicaall;
Friday      29 November, Simunye Plaza
Monday     2 December, Piggs Peak

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Kwakha Indvodza to run a social media campaign for the duration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. Social media pages to follow:
Twitter | @KwakhaIndvodza
Face Book: @KwakhaIndvodza

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For the duration of the 16 Days of Activism Campaign on Gender-based Violence, catch updates on issues that affect young people on choice and decision-making, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and more run by the CANGO social media programme, IGNITE. 
About IGNITE
IGNITE is a social media program that targets adolescents and young people through various social media networks including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Our initiative is to create platforms where the youth is empowered to access HIV prevention information and services, and make informed decisions about their lives. IGNITE is part of the Global Fund project, granted through CANGO, which aims to halt the spread of HIV and reverse its impact on the Swazi society by targeting youth aged 15–24 years who are out of school or in college. For more information, visit this link; https://igniteyoungpeople.home.blog/ 
​Social media platforms to follow:
Twitter | @Ignite_Cango
Facebook | @IgniteYoungPeopleSWD
Instagram | @_ignite_cango
​For more information, contact Ms Kideo Nhlabatsi at 2404 4721 | media@cango.org.sz 

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Annual Joshua Mzizi Memorial Lecture on Human Rights. 
In commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, CANGO in collaboration with the Council of Churches Eswatini to host the Annual Joshua Mzizi Memorial Lecture and the 71st anniversary of the UNDHR after last year’s milestone anniversary under the theme; Stand Up For Human Rights. The event will be held at Hlatikhulu, Mtsambama sports ground. For more information, contact CANGO at 2404 4721: cango@cango.org.sz 

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