By Amelia Naidoo
More than a decade after women across the country began coming together to raise awareness about gender violence, women and children in South Africa are still subjected to an alarming rate of physical and sexual violence.
As the 16 days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign begins on Saturday, activists said violence against women continued to be perpetuated at all levels - in law enforcement, the criminal justice system, the health-care system and in communities.
The plight of women and children has been highlighted across the country at "I stories" workshops, at which women have publicly shared their personal experiences of violence to help others come forward and raise awareness.
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'Seeking justice through the courts is our right' The Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) and community activists had also recently held a protest march in Eshowe, in support of women's rights to live their lives free from sexual and gender-based violence, TAC General Secretary Sipho Mthathi said.
The TAC is a member of the "One in Nine Campaign", a network-based campaign aimed at building solidarity with and justice for women survivors who speak out.
"Seeking justice through the courts is our right. Building justice where we live is the ultimate goal. This campaign aims to build a just environment for all, and particularly for women," said Mthathi.
A community organiser in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape, spoke out about her experiences when helping raped women seek justice.
"When you go to the courts, you find that the cases are postponed, rape kits are lost or police investigators are on sick leave - this is all so discouraging to these women," she said.
'Prosecutors also discourage them from pursuing their cases' Often, rural community members treated rape lightly and negotiated with the rapist's family, with payments of sheep and goats being made, she said.
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