By Aurelia Dyantyi
The campaign against gender violence has entered cyberspace.
To join the campaign, people have an option of logging onto the Internet in the comfort of their homes or offices to share their views on issues surrounding women and child abuse.
The cyber dialogues, facilitated by the government, NGOs and private sector organisations, aim to raise awareness during the 16 Days of Activism on Gender Violence.
| 'By making IT work, awareness has been taken to another level' |
Since the campaign kick-off last week over 50 access points, equipped with computers and Internet access, have been set up around the country to enable South Africans from all walks of life to register their concerns and ask relevant questions.
Gender Links' deputy director Kubi Rama said taking the campaign online was an innovative way of creating awareness and encouraging debate. Throughout the campaign there are themed daily discussions ranging from maintenance and child support, gender violence and HIV and Aids to empowerment of women and children.
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The debates are led by a panel of experts for a live discussion at the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Centre, and then go onto the Net inviting surfers from 1pm.
It is not always smooth sailing and some surfers digress from the topic, preferring to engage in gender-bashing.
A discussion on the empowerment of women and children was steered to talk about expectations. Men and women were on different sides, an indication that there is still a long way to go towards equality between genders in this country.
| 'The dialogues certainly serve an important role' |
Some posted notes implying that women were lazy and expected men to look after them financially, even though there were equal opportunities. At the same time important issues have been tabled through these cyber dialogues, encouraging people to come out online and share their difficulties.
However, only a fraction of South Africans have access to the Internet, or even know how to use a computer; 41 people enter the chatroom daily.
But Rama maintains that by making IT work for gender justice, awareness has been taken to another level.
"It is not about getting every single woman in the village sitting in front of a computer. This is a pilot project and we have attempted to reach every province, even remote areas such as Cofimvaba.
Through the dialogues people ask real questions, such as how to register their children in order to obtain maintenance, and they get the answers immediately. The dialogues certainly serve an important role."
To be part of these dialogues log onto cyberdialogues.co.za
- This article was originally published on page 9 of The Star on December 02, 2004
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