Cape Town - South Africa is marking 16 Days of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children.
But LeadSA, an initiative that inspires South Africans to active citizenry, believes it will take more than 16 days of awareness to change a society.
“It will require changes in every individual’s attitude and behaviour. It will rely on us having the courage to say something,” said LeadSA in a statement released on Thursday, on the third day of its “Say Something” campaign.
Through the campaign it is encouraging South Africans to take to social media and show their support for a society that will speak up when they see abuse.
LeadSA, an initiative of the Cape Argus and Primedia, is calling on each South African to show others that “we are not powerless and that we can change the way society treats women and children”.
Each participant will join celebrities, personalities and ordinary people who have let their messages be seen and heard.
They include chef Jenny Morris, actor and chairman of Missing Children Nico Panagio, 2009 co-winner of Idols Jason Hartman, Ben Peters and Juliet Harding of the Cape Town electro-swing and dance group Goodluck, and radio presenters Kieno Kammies of CapeTalk and Ryan O’Connor of KFM.
Each participant has written their message of support on a board, has been photographed with it and their images uploaded to LeadSA’s social network accounts.
Messages have included: “I will teach my children respect for all. And raise my son to be a man.”
“I put my hand up. You can too.”
“Every woman and child is mine to protect.”
“You don’t need to be a father to be an overprotective dad. Let’s defend all our daughters!” And: “Men, use your strength for the right reasons. Protect women and children.”
LeadSA plans to keep the momentum going through a dedicated portal that will offer a platform and resources to abused women and children beyond the 16-day campaign that ends on December 10.
“At the end of the day we want ‘Say Something’ to become a society that does something. If the testimony and support of one can inspire a person caught in an abusive relationship to reach out, we are already taking a step in the right direction.
“We want people to inspire each other to come forward when they know of the abuse of a women or child,” the statement read.
People can share their picture messages via e-mail at [email protected], or use the #SaySomething and #LeadSA hashtags on Twitter or Facebook.